New Zealand Cruisers for Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 7

New Zealand Cruisers for Australia

LEAVE ON JANUARY 20TH Psr Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Two cruisers of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, H.A1.8 ' Achilles and H.M.S. Leauder, which aro shortly to make a cruise to Australia, will leave Auckland ou January 20. The Achilles at the invitation of tho New South Wales Government will visit Sydney for the 150th anniversary celebrations of the State and will be there about & fortnigat. The Minister of Defence (Hon. V. Jones) said to-day that the Leander is to visit Hobart at tne invitation of the Government of Tasmania for the centenary of the Royal Hobart Regatta and will be there between February 18 and 24. Both ships will take the opportunity while in Australian waters to visit Melbourne. Arrangements have also been made for comomed gunnery and torpedo exercises with the Royal Australian Navy at Jervis Bay from February 9 to 15. Then will follow two days’ strategical exercises at sea under the direction of the rear-admiral commanding tno Royal Australian squadron. Both the New Zealand cruisers will return to New Zealand waters early m March and later lhey will be at Wellington, the Achilles from April 1 to April 19 and the Leauder from March 4 to April 4. After the period of annual musketry training at Trentham camp, including the holding of tho squadron rifle shooting contest, further exercises have been arranged for the vessels from April 21 to April 28 iu Hauraki Gulf. Both ships will then return to the naval at Auckland to give lekve and undertake refitting work.