CHILIAN TRAINING SHIP

Evening Star, Issue 17824, 22 November 1921, Page 3

CHILIAN TRAINING SHIP

GENERAL BAQUEDANO VISITS WELLINGTON. An arrival at Wellington early on Friday morning last was the Chilian training ship General Baquedano, from Valparaiso via Honolulu, Japan, Singapore, and Melbourne. On March 10 last the General Baquodano entered the dock at Talcaiiuamo for overhaul preparatory to her commencing a deep sea cruise. After spending four days at Guayaquil, which is situated on the River Guayas, she sailed on May 15 for Honolulu, which port was reached after forty-two days at sea. Calm weather, accompanied by favorable winds, prevailed, and with the exception of 500 miles, when tho equatorial calms were encountered, tho journey was accomplished by sail. Upon the eve of the departure from Honolulu (a week later) propeller trouble was located, and while tho vessel lay in the floating dock tho crew worked right throughout tho night in order to remedy the defect. As a result of their efforts tho vessel was enabled to sail for Japan tlie following morning. For thirty-five days, during which time fairly calm weather was experienced, the Baquedano followed the sailing route in order to benefit by the prevailing trade winds, and made port at Yokohama late in August. She spent nine days at tho Japanese capital, and proceeded thence to Kobe, where the stay was limited to five days. While moored at Kobe the General Baquedano was struck by a typhoon., which necessitated tho dropping of three anchors in order to hold the vessel fast. It was also found necessary to lower the masts. A number of officers who were returning in a small rowing boat from the shore were subjected to a rough passage, and when the vessel was eventually reached they were practically exhausted. Rain fell with torrential force, and an electrical disturbance was also in evidence. The typhoon crossed Japan from south-west to north-east.

From Kobe the vessel continued her voyage to Singapore, which port was reached on September 19, after an extremely rough voyage. When passing Formosa- Island gales, which extended over a period of five days, were met with, and the vessel was unable to travel at more than five miles per hour. During the bad weather on September 15 the chief engineer, Victor Olivos, T, who had been ailing since the departure from' Japan, died, and upon the vessel’s arrival at Singaporeans buried with naval honors there—practically 9,000 milea from his homeland. The Baqucdano replenished her bunkers at Singapore, and left there on September 24. She steamed through the Sunda, Strait, after which sail was used until October 10.„ Melbourne was reached on November 5, and five days later the vessel sailed for Wellington. The General Baqc-cda.no is of 2,500 tons register, am l is under the command of Captain F. Wiegand, R. The vessel left Wellington this morning for Easter Island (a Chilian possession in the Pacific) on route for Valparaiso.