LANGUAGE COMEDY

Evening Star, Issue 22633, 27 April 1937, Page 5

LANGUAGE COMEDY

AMUSING SCENE ON VISITING FRENCH SLOOP [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 26. Owing to difficulties of language, an amusing contretemps marked the arrival at Auckland this morning of the French sloop Rigault de Genouilly. When the medical officer, Dr Graham Russell, boarded the sloop the ship’s surgeon was not among the 'welcoming party, being engaged in the ship’s hospital. Sortie time elapsed before mutual explanations could be made, and there was a comedy of oddly-assorted English and French phrases and a waving of hands. When the French Consul, M. Edouard Jo.ubert, was boarding the sloop a salute was given with whistle and bugle, and M. Edouard 1 , as he bowed in acknowledgment, struck hia head sharply against an iron overhead decking. The gangway was about 2ft above the level of the deck, and for a man of M. Jo.ubert’s stature there was not sufficient clearance. As he was helped to his feet a trickle of blood was running from his head, but aftej this had been bandaged he appeared to suffer no ill-effects, and later accompanied Captain M. Moron on a round of official visits. The sloop, is on her annual South Pacific visit. As she entered the harbour she fired a salute of 21 guns, which was answered gun for gun by the shore battery. The sloop will go into dry dock here for overhaul.