U.S. Naval Squadron Arrives In Auckland On Informal Cruise

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1941, Page 6

U.S. Naval Squadron Arrives In Auckland On Informal Cruise

[Special to “Northern Advocate.”!

AUCKLAND, This Day

TWO CRUISERS AND FOUR DESTROYERS BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET ARRIVED AT AUCKLAND THIS AFTERNOON, AND WILL REMAIN IN PORT UNTIL THURSDAY.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), in a broadcast statement yesterday, made an announcement that the warships would arrive.

The squadron consists of the cruisers Brooklyn and Savannah and the destroyers Case. Shaw, Cummings and Tucker. Captain E. iS. Stone, U.S.N., -commands the squadron, his flagship being the Brooklyn.

Most Modem Ships.

It was officially announced that the visit is an informal one in. the bourse of a training cruise, and has followed a request by the United States Government for permission to include New Zealand in the itinerary. The six warships are among the most modern in the United States navy. All were launched from 1936 onwards.

The two light cruisers are of the Brooklyn class, of which the United States has nine ships. The first of the class to be launched and completed, the Brooklyn, which has a displacement of 9700 tens, was laid down at the New York navy yard in, March, 1935, and completed on July 18, 1938. The Savannah, third of the class, was completed on August 30, 1938, and has a displacement of 9475 tons.

Heavily Armed,

Both cruisers have fifteen six-inch guns, eight five-inch anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders, five onepounders, and three machine-guns. The destroyers are of the Mahan class, and have a displacement of 1500 tons. They were all completed in 1937. They have a top speed of 36.5 knots, a radius of 6000 miles, and carry five five-inch guns. They also have twelve 21-inch quadrupled torpedo tubes.

Mr. Fraser’s Reference

Reference to the visit to New Zealand of ships of the United States fleet was made by the'Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) at a meeting of citizens in Wellington yesterday afternoon to express gratitude to America for the passing of the Lease or Lend Bill.

On Mr. Fraser’s motion, a motion was carried extending a welcome to the officers and men to New Zealand.

“It is fitting that today a section of the American fleet should be almost at our shores,” Mr. Fraser said.

“Brother to Brother.”

“Tomorrow we will welcome into the Waitemata Harbour two cruisers of the American, navy and four destroyers. The officers and men will get a welcome from friends to friends, from brothers to brothers. “W'e hope we will be able to see them in Wellington and welcome them to our capital city. They are here on exercises, but are making a friendly call, and those of us who remember the great welcome the American fleet got in every port visited in 1925 will agree that we will give them as great of even a greater welcome, because today we are welcoming those representatives of a nation which will place, and has placed, the whole of its resources at the disposal of the cause of freedom and democracy.”

Official Welcome

The Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) arrived from Wellington today and joined the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry). Sir John Duigan, Captain W. E. Parry, R.N., and Group-Captain Saunders will extend a welcome on behalf of the Army. Navy and Air Force. The official programme of entertainment for the visitors has not been announced until it is approved by Captain Stone. The proposals include a civic reception, visits to Rotorua and dances in the Town Hall.