VISIT OF U.S. WARSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 18262, 30 April 1923, Page 4

VISIT OF U.S. WARSHIP

GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA ABOARD. RECEPTION AT AUCKLAND. The United States naval patrol boat Ontario arrived at Auckland from Pago Pago on Sunday morning, and anchored in the stream. She was to dock this morning, for overhaul, remaining hero till May 20. In addition to the crow, she carries seventy-five liberty men. Tho official landing and tho civic reception to Captain Pollock, Governor of American Samoa, who arrived by her, was to take place this morning. During America’s participation in tho war tho Ontario was first engaged in escorting submarine chasers to the Azores, West Indies, and other places. She then acted as a tender to tho chasers in tho Irish Channel until the armistice. Subsequently, for eight months, she was engaged escorting chasers to America. It is known (says the Auckland ‘Star’) that Captain Pollock is most anxious personally to renew his acquaintances with the dominion, and to give an opportunity to some of his officers To view tho scenery of this country. He has visited the dominion onco before, when, as a lieutenant, he was one of the personnel of the battleship Brooklyn. Admiral Remy and the warship were sent to represent the United States Government on the occasion of tho inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia and the opening of tho first Parliament by the King, then the Duke of York, in 1900. Tho Brooklyn made a stay of -about a week at Auckland and Wellington before proceeding to Australia. Captain Pollock still has tho liveliest recollection of the welcome and hospitality which was extended by New Zealand to the visitors on that occasion.

During the war Captain Pollock was in command of tho U.S.S. George Washington, which, after the armistice, was selected to carry President Woodrow Wilson and the American delegates to the Peace Conference at Paris. New Zealanders will bo interested to know that there has always been tho closest and most friendly co-operation between tho Now Zealand Adminismfion <;f Western Samoa and tho Naval Administration of American Samoa. The problems of_ the respective Governments are almost identical, and the interchange of views and visits which take place at regular intervals between the officers of the two territories have always been marked by the greatest cordiality and good feeling.