N.Z. FRIGATES SAIL FOR SOUTH KOREAN WATERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1950, Page 5

N.Z. FRIGATES SAIL FOR SOUTH KOREAN WATERS

AUCKLAND, July 3 (P.A.).—“You are about to leave New Zealand in the United Nations Ist XV, and we know you will do justice to this honour. Good luck and good hunting.” This message from the New Zealand Naval Board was received by the frigates Tutira and Pukaki shortly before their departure from the Devonport Naval Base this afternoon for Hong Kong and Korean waters. The Naval Officer Commanding at Auckland (Captain A. C. Duckworth, R.N.) told the ship’s complements this morning: “You are definitely going into the thick of it.” The frigates will reach Hong Kong in 15 days, and will then be given further orders. They will steam at 15 knots, several knots above their economical cruising speed, and they will make one stop for fuel. Fifteen days at sea will be spent in “shakedown” drills to settle into the ship’s organisations the ratings who joined them today from the Philomel, Lachlan, and Tamaki. “Into The Thick Of It”

“Although your destination is Hong Kong, there is no question or thought that you will merely replace Royal Navy ships that have been sent to Korea,” said Captain Duckworth on the quarterdeck of the Tutira this morning. “You are definitely going into the thick of it. The eyes of New Zealand are on you and the Pukaki.”

Speaking to the ship’s company in the Pukaki, Captain Duckworth said: “You are the first to go. The sooner you get it over the better, and then we will have no real trouble.” He added: “It will make Uncle Joe pause before he starts anything bigger.” On Friday a call was made for volunteers from the Philomel, the Devonport shore establishment, to bring the two frigates to emergency strength. Within an hour 80 ratings from different branches had volunteered, many times the number needed. More volunteered from the Philomel, the survey ship Lachlan, and the Tamaki, the training establishment' at Motuihe Island. Cap bands from all three worn by ratings among the complements of the Tutira and the Pukaki this afternoon showed the number of “pierhead jumpers” willing to go overseas at very little notice. For half an hour this afternoon relatives, and friends were permitted to board the two ships. About 100 visitors went to each.

Exchange Of Compliments The Tutira (Lieutenant-Comman-der P. J. H. Hoare, R.N.) and the Pukaki (Lieutenant-Commander L. E. Herrick, R.N.) slipped their lines precisely at. 3 p.m. As the frigates moved down the harbour merchant ships dipped their Red Ensigns, and lamp flashes between the warships and the shore marked the final exchange of compliments. Although a programme of coastal visits this month has been arranged for the two Royal Navy frigates, St Austell Bay and Veryan Bay, which arrived at the Devonport Naval Base today on temporary exchange, from the Mediterranean Fleet, they will be prepared to join the Tutira and Pukaki in Far Eastern waters. The British warships have steamed 12,000 miles since ..they left Malta on April 27, and during the voyage steam has been off their main engines only on 11 days. Some days’ work will be involved .in adjustments, _ . but the frigates could leave with little notice. No Troops From Malaya

SINGAPORE, July 3’ (Rec 11.10 a;m:).—Field Marshal Sir William Slim, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, told a press conference that British troops would not be sent to Korea from Malaya. '■ He added: “The Malayan campaign is more important to Malaya than Korean events.”