KING’S VISIT TO THE GRAND FLEET.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1917, Page 8

KING’S VISIT TO THE GRAND FLEET.

— INVESTITURE ON THE FLAGSHIP. SOME STIRRING SCENES. Oho week-end in July King George completed a visit’ to the Grand Fleet. His Majesty was accompanied by Prince Albert, liis sailor son. The King occupied the whole of one morning in inspecting the flagship. He went over every part of her, and, with the true instinct of the sailor, paid chief attention not to the showy side of; the great ship, but to those minutiae which- tend to llu> well-being, safety, and corntort of the lower deck- In tin l afternoon His Majesty inspected 'he officers and men. Something I'ke a thousand men marched before him and saluted- In the evening the King’ dined with Admiral Realty and other Admirals and distinguished officers from various ships in the Fleet. DECORATIONS PRESENTEDOn Sunday preparations were made to invest with their decorations those who had received honours for their work in the Jhittie of Jutland. On the (piarter deck, just under her afier--I'irret gun-muzzles, was placed a crimson dais tor the King. .First name Sir David Realty, who received the G-C.R. lie uncovered, bent his head, the King ‘placed the ribbon over it. and then the King, looking hint straight in the face, shook hands with him. He replaced his cap at the wellknown jaunty angle over his left eve, sainted, and stepped asideAs he did so Rear-Admiral Evan--1 homas moved up to the King to receive the K.C.R., which tie so gloriously won by his gallant and determined conduct in command of the Fifth Rattle S (pmdron at th(> Rattle of .Inland. THE ADMIRAL'S SWORD. Now occurred a very striking little incident (says the “Daily Mail ’ in its account)- Sir David Realty had spoken for a minute with tin l King’, and drew his sword- Ry his own special wish. Sir David s sword was to be used to confer knighthood on the officer who had seconded him with such resolution in (hat tierce struggle with the (lerman battle cruisers and battle fleet before our battleships arrived. The King took the Gommander-in-riiief’s sword: in' tapped Sir Hugh EvanThomas lightly on each shoulder with the Hat blade, shook hands with him, looked at him fixedly for an instant or two, and received his salute- Then came Admirals Sir G. Madden and Sir E. I). Sturdee, and many others- Among them was one of of tin l most famous of our submarine officers-—Commander Noel F- Lawrence, who did such splendid work in tin' Raltic, and last year in the North Sea accomplished the astounding feat of putting two torpedoes into the German Dreadnought Grosser Kurfurst and one into the Tluiringen. Enluckily both these ships, though badly damaged, contrived to (otter back into port, and Commander Lawrence had an exceedingly warm two hours from the enemy, who hunted him for that period with depth charges—the explosives dropped where bis submarine was supposed to be—and other horrors, luckily without success. With Cunner -T. W- A. Chubb, 1 who distinguished himself by his coolness and courage in tin' Warspite at Jutland, the King talked ( for a minute or two. Last came , Midshipman -I. E. If- Grove, of i the Royal Naval Reserve. ON A MINE-SWEEPER- ( In a “Daily Telegraph" ac- j count of the King's visit, the correspondent says;—lDs Majesty 1 did th<' most popular thing with j all ranks of the Fleet that he < could possibly have done: he went aboard a mine-sweeping trawler. f From the Admiral of the Fleet to f tht' humblest in the naval service, 1 no body of men met with such v enthusiastic encomium as the \ modest fishermen who, from (heir peace fid calling. have volun- v leered for the most hazardous ad- t ventures of the sea. His Majesty * who was accompanied by Ids J 1

oailor son and Admiral Beatty, went down the frail ladder leading to the deck of the trawler, where the very small crew, only 15 hands, stood at attention for his inspection. The officers and men were in the usual naval garb“l am glad to be on a trawler amongst you, inert,” said His Majesty, “and pleased to see you all looking so well after your very hard work- And you have had much success in catching and sinking mines?” _ * * “We have had our fair share, 1 think, sir,” said a diminutive, young hero, obviously proud of the achievement. “And how about submarines: any luck with them?” “No, sir,” remarked the youth. “I am afraid we haven't liad any of them down yet. But he added, “we are hoping to do them a bit of no good before we’ve finished with them- “ How do you like the life ?'_' The lad answered: “Well, sir. it’s a pretty bit rough, but we manage to get through itThe men themselves were highlv pleased that the King had been amongst them. “We consider it a real compliment that he should come upon one of our little boats. Von see. we are not wbat.you would call a ‘star turn.' but wo do our little bit just the same, although the people don't know a great lot about us. 5 es, T admit it's a good bit dangerous at times, but we hope for the best, von know.”