H.M.S. ADELAIDE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 October 1924, Page 5

H.M.S. ADELAIDE

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL MEN. WELCOMED IN LONDON. it CARLI-PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT (Receoived Oct. 2, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. The H.M.S. Adelaide’s crew inarched to the Horse Guards’ parade, where Lord Chelmsford and members of the Board of the Admiralty inspected them. Lord Chelmsford officially welcomed them and recalled being in Australia at the birth of the Australian navy, since when the navy had received its baptism of war. The world knew how it had acquitted itself, and he was confident the new arrangement for the annual exchange of British and Australian warships would be to the benefit of all. He declared it was impossible to give the Adelaide’s men a better reception than the right royal reception accorded to the British squadron in Australia, but they welcomed them from the bottom of their hearts. “We want you to really feel at home,” he concluded, “and return and tell your friends you had a good time.” Mr J. H. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) reminded them that their task was a common one. Although they represented the Australian navy, the interchange arrangements indicated that the defence of the great Commonwealth was a national undertaking. Mr Thomas humorously refused to ask even privately the men’s opinion of British weather, as it could only be , expressed in naval language and, was the only thing Britain cannot control. “You have good weather and we have a good country,” he added. “We are proud of you and your past. We are assured of your future, and hope you will take back the pleasantest recollections of real British hospitality. ” The ceremony concluded with ringing cheers by the men for the Board of Admiralty. Mr Thomas’ references to the wea- 1 ther was due to the fact that the crew on arrival found London shrouded in a fog typical of November.—Reuter.