A NAVAL DESERTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10412, 20 October 1927, Page 6

A NAVAL DESERTER

FELIX THE CAT. LABURNUM'S PET ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. REPORTED ON ILM.S. VERONICA (Special to the Times.) , , AUCUyHAND, Oct. 17. There is probably not another pet in the British ana certainly not in the New Zealand Division, says the Herald, which has been the cause of so much official consternation a« Felix the Cat, which until recently regularly drew its rations on board H.M.S. Laburnum. At present Felix is under open arrest at Fiji on hoard H.M.S. Veronica. This state of affairs is certainly uniquo in the annals of the Navy. . Felix was in higli favor as a pet on the Laburnum for over a year, and .left Auckland last May as the official pet by permission of the Commander. The naval regulations do not permit animals to be carried on any ship except by special permission, so that the cat enjoyed an undisputed right to accompany the sloop on its protracted tour of the South Pacific Islands. Everything went well until Suva was reached on September 6. Felix had previously shown no disposition to wander ashore at any of the islands visited, hut at Suva he developed,ah idea of his own to take leave with the rest of the crew, lie was seldom seen on board during the night, but would usually walk serenely up the gangway early each morning. However, the sloop left the wharf one morning for Lautoka to carry out gunnery exercises. Felix was still ashore. A few days later .the Veronica passed near Lautoka and the following official wireless message was received by the captain of the Laburnum. “Felix, absentee .from H.iM.S. Laburnum, reported on Veronica 2 tt.m. Thursday September 15. liequest instructions.” The captain of the Laburnum replied bv. wireless: “Many thanks; please bring Felix to Auckland.” That was. the last the Laburnum heard of .its former, pet, which was. listed as a deserter for future puuishment. The wireless messages were filed for reference, and are at present deposited in the pigeon holes of the Laburnum’s office. ’What fate awaits the unfortunate deserter is unknown.