OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 7

OBITUARY.

By Telearaph.—Press Association. —Copyright

London, September 17. Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Chi CHESTER, Bart., is dead.

Admiral Chichester was born in 1849. He was a typical naval officer, bluff and hearty, and keen in regard to his profession. His name was held in the greatest respect amongst the naval men of all nations, and ho was a close personal friend of Admiral Dewey. A characteristic story is told of him in connection with one of the Russian scares of .some years ago. He was "shadowing" a Russian cruiser in the East and followed her from port to port. Finally, one day the Russian commander became so angry at being " shadowed" that he gave the order to clear for action as he anchored at Yokohama. On Captain Chichester entering the bay, and seeing the Russian cruiser stripped for action, he gave the order " full steam ahead," and went straight at the Russian cruiser to ram her. The astonished Russians dipped their flags just in time to enable the British commander to sheer off. The incident ©tided with apologies. When in 1898 Admiral Dewey took Manila, German cruisers were there and adopted-an attitude almost, hostile to the Americans. A German naval vessel steamed into the bay and entirely disregarded the blockade established by the United States squadron. Admiral Dewey fired a shot across her bows and ordered her to heave to. The German commander, in a great rage, asked the advice of th© commander ef the British squadron then at Manila, Sir Edward Chichester, as to what he should do, and the latter advised him to apologise to the American admiral. Admiral Chichester smoothed over the trouble for a tjime, but Admiral Dewey had again to threaten tho_ German commander. Then a German admiral arrived upon the scene, andwhen Admiral Dewey had threatened to bombard Manila, he asked Admiral Chichester what ho intended to do in the matter. "That is only known to Admiral Dewey and myself," ho replied, and that reply put an end to the desire of the German commander to interfere. When Admiral Chichester's squadron was leaving Manila Bay, every ship in the American fleet manned its yards and gave the admiral's ship, the Immortiiltte, three cheers as she passed along. During the South African war, Admiral Chichester was naval transport officer and performed j splendid service. He is succeeded in the i baronetcy by his son aged 23» J