AMERICAN FLEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 5

AMERICAN FLEET

INCIDENTS ON THE VOYAGE TWELVE NURSES ABOARD VERY GOOD LOOKING (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australia r A N.Z. Cable Association.) i (By Radio oil hoard the Seattle, from the Special Representative of the i Australian Press Association.) , While attention has been centred upon 25,000 representatives of the male sex, who make up the personnel of the fleet-, it must not he forgotten that there are also 12 young females, who wear navyblue and xvili also set foot on Australian . soil. These are the nurses on hoard the , Relief, one of the most remarkable naval . vessels afloat. These women, as much . as any other officer or bluejacket, are “of heroic stuff.” During tin* journey they have contributed tlicit- full share to the welfare of the human element , that- makes up this mighty armada. There have been many transfers of I all persons to the Relief and to the. nurses has fallen the duty of caring for ' them. These nurses are smart and good looking, as was discernible to any eye when the Relief lay in Honolulu, and * there is not a shadow of doubt- that the young men of Australia will see that their stay is pleasant. Saturday. One of the most amusing incidents of our trip to Australia occurred last night, and was related by a wireless expert, Lieutenant Schnell, in the ward room ■ at breakfast ibis morning. lie heart! i two amateurs idly conversing over high ■ frequency sets. Amateur No. 1. at Melbourne suddenly signalled to Amateur ■ No. 2 at Portland, Orogan, “Say," Insaid, “1 understand the Seattle is due to dock here at 3 in the afternoon of , July 23rd. Will she do it?” “Anzac,” replied Portland. “when you sep. l,ho stars and stripes run up , the rudder end of the Seattle you can ! set- your watch at- 3 o'clock and make no mistake about it." “Jiminy !” said Melbourne, “and she is 1500 miles away.” Our position is 31.7 degrees south. 166.51 east. 1212 miles from Port Philip and 927 miles from the Division point 1 of the fleet, and approximately 1215 miles from Sydney. (By Radio from the Batleship New Mexico, from the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association). Sunday. The fleet divides at Cape Howe on 22nd. (By radio from the special representative of the Australia Press Association aboard the Seattle.) Sunday. Under summer like sky and in warm' sun the fleet is moving speedily along its course. In fact in order to- arrive at Melbourne and Sydney at the designated time it will probably be necessary for the speed to bo reduced to nine knots. Tt must he remembered that we are very near Sydney, but in order that both detachments arrive at approximately the same time the whole fleet will continue to rendezvous virtually equidistant from Melbourne and Sydney, thence dividing. Thus our distance from t lie- Sydney Heads in round figures is 890 miles.