Australasian Blue-jackets

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 252, 2 October 1924, Page 5

Australasian Blue-jackets

WELCOMED IN LONDON, ... ADDRESSED BY’ LORD CHELMSFORD. (Received 2, 9.20 a.m.) London, Oct. 1. H.M.A.S Adelaide’s crew march, ed to the Horse Guards parade, where they were inspected by Loru Uiieimsfora, hirst Lora of the Admiralty, and members of the Board of Admiralty. Lord Chelmsford officially welcomed them, and recalled being in Australia at the .birth of the Australian navy, since when, he said, the navy had received its baptism of war and the world knew how it had auquited itself. He was confident the new arrangement for an annual exchange of British and Australian war. ships would be to the benefit of all. He declared it wa ß impossible to give the Adelaide’s men a better reception than the right royal reception accorded the British squadron in Australia, but they welcomed them from the bottom of their hearts. “We want you,” he added, “to really feel at home, and when you return to tell your friends that your you had a good time.”

COLONIAL SECRETARY’S SPEECH. 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 oS the great commonwealth was a natural undertaking by all. Mr Thomas humorously refused to ask even privately the men’s opinion of British weather, as it could only be expressed in naval language. It was the only thing Britain could not control.

Mr Thomas continued: “You have good weather, and we have a good country. We are proud of you and your past, and we are assured of your future. We hope you will take back pleasant recollections of real British hospitality.” The ceremony concluded with ringing cheers by the men for the Board of Admiralty. Mr Thomas’s references to the weather were due to the fact that the crew, on arrival* found London shrouded in fog, typical of November.— (Reuter).