KING AND NAVY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1936, Page 15

KING AND NAVY

TRIP TO TORPEDO BOAT. [beitish official wireless.] RUGBY, June 30. The King made a trip in one of the new high speed motor torpedo boats, when he paid a visit to the Fleet at Portsmouth. The sea was choppy outside the harbour, and the weather so unpromising, it was generally expected that this part of the programme would be modified, but the King expressed a desire to carry out the arrangements. The bosun piped His Majesty over the side into the small fifty-foot craft, which, propelled by engines developing 1500 horse power, is capable of a speed of fifty miles an hour. Accompanying the sister boat, with the designer on board, the vessel set off at a high speed, stern almost submerged, and performed many manoeuvres, which were greatly enjoyed by the King who stood in the wheel house in the waist of the vessel.

At Spithead, a dummy torpedo was fired at H.M.S. Amazon, and registered a direct hit. The King so enjoyed the experience that instead of taking the Admiral’s barge, he remained in the torpedo boat to visit Whale Island Gunnery School. As the vessel sped back into the harbour, the' King, standing at the salute, was warmly greeted. The shore was lined with sailors standing in a long chain, with hands clasped.

PRIVATE AERODROME.

RUGBY, June 30. The King’s private aerodrome at Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, is to be improved and extended so as to make it a landing ground suitable for accommodation for all kinds of aircraft. “BETROTHAL” INSURANCES LONDON, July 1. There are heavy insurances in the City against the chance of the announcement of the betrothal of the King before his coronation, as a result of which arrangement thousands of trades people would be seriously affected. So strong is the rumour of the betrothal that a rate of thirty guineas per cent, was taken out by one company, whereas three days ago, the rate was nine per cent. Lloyds’ representative states that all insurance suggestions are carefully considered and it must be proved that the insuring party definitely stands to lose if a certain occurrence takes place. Gambling, merely for the sake of gambling, will not be allowed.