ADMIRAL FRASER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 60, 8 February 1945, Page 4

ADMIRAL FRASER

WELLINGTON’S TRIBUTES

NAVY’S PART IN WAR

(Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, leb. 7 Admiral Sir Bruce. Fraser, Comma nder-in-Chief of the British Pacific Fleet, received a rousing reception at a civic welcome tendered to him today. . The Mayor of Wellington (Mr AY. Appleton) expressed the pride of Wellingtonians in welcoming such an outstanding figure of His Majesty s Navy. He wished Admiral Fraser the best of luck and expressed the hope that he would be able to revisit Wellington. The Minister of Finance (Air Nash), who joined in the welcome on behalf of the Government, said the British Fleet would co-operate with the United States forces in the defeat of Japan. Mr Nash added that they had all been thrilled at the success of the Russians, but for all their courage and bravery the Russians could not have done what they had done had it not been for the work of Admiral Fraser and others who had known the anguish and hardships of those Murmansk convoys. “We have to thank God for the British Navy which, I hope, will be the protection of freedom-loving people in the future,” said Mr Nash. Admiral P’raser, replying, said that to move a big fleet from one end of the world to the other was no easy matter. Commenting on the late arrival of the British warships in the Pacific, he said that though Britain always had some ships to spare at one time it was difficult to get a coordinated force. Destroyers had to be in Home waters lighting submarines, and they were the most important part of any battle fleet. It was that and other things that prevented Britain from taking part in the Pacific war to the fullest extent at an earlier date. Admiral P’raser' said that, as an island Dominion, it was important for New Zealand, just as it was for Britain, to have control of the sea. If Britain had lost her colonies early in the war, she woidd have lost the war.

“I hope that in the future when you in New Zealand see the results of our fleet battles, you will think of us just as we will be thinking of you,” Admiral P’rascr concluded.