CRUISER SQUADRON

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9798, 7 May 1924, Page 4

CRUISER SQUADRON

DAUNTLESS AT IN VE RC All GIL i, i

COUNTRYSIDE EX FETE TO WELCOME VISITORS.

INVERCARGILL, May 6. Brilliant weather obtains for the visit of the Dauntless. To-day large parties of bluejackets were taken on motor tours to all parts of Southland, tiie visitors being lavishly entertained at Riverton, Otautau, Winton, Gore, and Wyndham; in fact the whole countryside was en fete to welcome the officers and men.- On the ship itself an “'at home” was largely attended.

j Several parties of officers have been taken to Lake Te Anau on a two | dates’ shooting expedition. Tomorrow there will be a ceremonial inarch in Invercargill, in which town a round of festivities will he attended by the visitors.—P.A. OKI LDP EX’S WOXDEKLAXD. HAPPY TDFES OX THE REPULSE. V\ ElLIa G7'OX. Hay 6. H.M.S. Repulse, which is vi Wellington, is becoming a more popular ship than the Hood and was to-day transformed into a children's wonderland. The delight of the children at the many attractions provided for them was unbounded and it was a delight to watch them enjoying themselves on the big lighting ship. Some JO.OOO children will have visited the ship in six days. The children are fed in the Harbor Board's big shed by helpers from various local institutions. To-morrow the commissariat will deal with the wonts of 26-30 child- ; ten. . Tonight there is a citizens' ball in honor cf the Admiral and his officers. It will be .given in the Town Hal!.—Special. FLEET'S SPEED BOAT. A REMARKABLE CRAFT. THIRTY-FIVE KXOTS. The speed motor-boat carried by the Hood, and known in the navy as a ‘‘hyciroplane/’ can do 35 knots an hour. This is rather better than' our express train at its best. i This little craft has provided one of the most, spectacular features of the visit. It has been rushing about Wellington harbor. From the propeller rises a high curve of spray, and a huge fan of ream rises from the stern. One third of the hull rises clear of the water, and little more than half of it offers any resistance. The shaft does not- enter the water at the stern, but _ well toward the bow, for the engine—a 3-30 h.p. Tliornycroft of 12 cylinders—is there situated. Aft of the engine there is an angle in the keel, and at this point the shaft- goes through. The turtle-hacked craft "is about 32ft in length, and Sft in brain, and at' the stern draws no more than 24ft of water. She carries a crew of four, and can accommodate 12 passengers in the cockpit. The boat, however, is only a small edition of the type used for torpedo raids in the Xort’i Sea during the war. These launches had a speed of 45 knots. At the stern they carried one torpedo. When a target offered the speed boat, made straight for it. and dropping its torpedo over the stern ran ahead of it and gradually out of its path. They went to sea in any weather their immense speed, which carried them Skimming over the surface, evidently safeguarding them from ordinary dangers.