NAVAL VISITS

Evening Star, Issue 19143, 9 January 1926, Page 5

NAVAL VISITS

A FULL PEOfiEAHRIE FRENCH SLGCP DUE SOON The French sloop Cassiopee, rurdef the command of Captain dc Frigate Dcccuy, is duo hero this month, and will afterwards proceed to Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland.

On the occasion of the visit of iI.M.S. Chatham and other New Zealand vessels to Tahiti the French Government extended every courtesy to the commander, officers, and men, and it is hoped that local authorities and other' parties interested will co-operate witlr tho Government in making tho stay of the visitors one to he remembered. The usual facilities will be made available to tho members of the sloop. THE IWATE'S VLSI I’. The Japanese training ship Iwate, with 400 of all rankings on board, is expected to reach Wellington on February 18. She will leave lor Auckland on February 23, and clear that port on March 3. Tire vessel is under tiro command of Captain Yuriichi Edahara, who graduated with distinction from the Naval College, Tokio, and after the ship’s arrival lie will pay the usual courtesy calls on tho Prime Minister, Ministers of the Crown, Mayor of Wellington, chairman of the Harbor - . Board, the Commodore, and the General Officer Commanding the Now Zealand Forces. Captain Edahara is particularly anxious that the ninety cadets on the Jwatc should have an opportunity of viewing tho Government, educational, commercial, and industrial institutions lor educational purposes, and arrangements are being mode to meet iris wishes ’in this direction. In addition, railway facilities will be placed at the disposal of tho visitors, and the Government will extend an invitation to tho captain and Iris staff officers to he its guests at. llotorua on a three days 1 trip. Arrangements are also to be made for a one-day trip to the thermal district for 100 officer's and men. That party will leave Auckland by train early in the morning, arrive at llotorua in time for lunch, and leave on tire return journey to Auckland at 10.30 p.m.

Quite an historical interest attaches to the Twain by reason of her performances during the Russo-Japanese 'War. Tlio vessel was launched on March 29, 1900, from the dockyard at Newcastle, England, ami- handed over to the Japanese Government on March IS of the following year, lie l- displacement is 9.770 Inns. During the war with 11ns-kI.-i she engaged three of the enemy fleet, including the j’ltrie. The n.-linu was very severe, as the Jwnfe received the enemy’s tiro to the extent of seventeen shell-;. She succeeded, however, in sinking the Rune, and the two other attackers withdrew. FROM ACROSS THE TASMAN.

Three units of the Australian Fleet, the Adelaide (Commodore WanlCs flagsb ip), the Sydney, and the IViki, will also he, in New Zealand waters pext month. Tim Sydney is expected to reach Dunedin on February 21. and will remain there until February 22. while the Adelaide and the Delhi will visit Lyttelton from February 25 to March- 1. All the vessels will be in Wellington from March 2 to March fi, and in Auckland from March S to March 21. Retween March 8 and March 15. it- is understood, target practice between the Australian and New Zealand ships will bo carried out on the coast somewhere in the vicinity tf Auckland.