ANGLO-RUSSIAN ENTENTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

ANGLO-RUSSIAN ENTENTE.

BY A. WILLIAMS.

Fop. the first '~nic in 30 years a British j fic-et has appeared in Russian waters. The first cruiser squadron, consisting of the battle-irnisure Lion, Queen Mary,Princess Royal, and New Zealand, accompanied by the light cruisers Blond and Boadicea, undo the command of RearAdmiral air David Beatty arrived at Reval on Juno 18. Officers and men wore most hospitality recei* ed at the Easthoniau port, being welcomed by the officials and popuwith remarkable expressions of fnendciiip. The Puiidcnt ol the Duma. M. liodzianko, and members of the Duma Commission on Naval Affairs, engaged in tho inspection of naval works during tho stay of the squadron, went on board tho flagship Lion, u id on behalf of the Duma and the Russian people extended a welcome to the English Meet. Early on tho morning of June 22 the squadron anchoisd ol! the island fortress— Lroufctadt—exchanging salutes with the Russian warships anchoied in the roads and wiih F01; Constantine, the most powertul bastioi of the fortress. Official visits having been exchanged, a week's lestivitic-. were entered upon, which must havo severely taxed tho of the 5000 office rc> and men of the fleet,. Tho Emperor, accompanied by the Empress aud the y >ung Grand Duchesses, reviewed tho lied on Saturday, June 27, On arriving from l'eterhof the yacht Alexandra was received with an imperial salute. When .he Emperor boarded the flagship, H.M.N. Lion tho flag of Sir David Beatty vas struck, and then transferred to the Queen Mary, the ship next in line, and tlu flag of the Emperor, as Admiral of the British fleet, was hoisted on the Lion. 'lho Imperial visitors made a close inspection of the Lion, and lunched with the admiral ai d tho captains, the visit lasting tlireo In tins. Then If.M.S. New Zealand was sited, proDably becauso Prince George of Battenburg, a nephew of tno Empress is an officer of this ship, and also because of tho interest aroused by the fact tint the New Zealand was presented to tin British Navy by the Dominion of New Zealand.

Their Majesties were greatly interested .in the ship, tho many trophies presented by various New Zealand towns, and in the photo,s and "la< ri curios displayed in Captain Halsey's qi arters. All 011 board were delighted at t! 0 interest and cordiality of tho august v aitors. Tho cities of Cronstadt and St. Petersburg set out t > entertain the British sailors in a m inner worthy of Russia's lar-hmed hospi alitv. In batches of 600, the men were conveyed to the buildings etyled " Xirodi i Dom" (People's House), in tho two ciiies, and there treated to bountiful repast 1, followed by musical performances or operatic spectacles. Tho English Colony in St. Petersburg entertained tho adin ral and officers at a dinner and dance, and the men by a sport 6 gathering and dinner. Count Tolstoy, the Mayor of St. Petersburg, and the Town Council j ga\e a dinner ind reception at the Town i Hall, at which Admiral Beatty was presented with a loving-cup for the flagship, i and a handsome flagon for himself. Tho j admiral proved to bo a real orator, de- | lighting all by his happy speeches in reply to various toasts

11.M.5. Blond and Boadicea anchored in, the Neva, just below the Nicholas Bridge, and w< re visited by thousands (luring the wee*. The largo ships lay at Cronsdat, hours journey, from tho capital, but distance did not prevent many thousands making the trip to inspect tho mightiest ship; ever seen 111 Russian waters. Linguistic difficulties were somehow overcome by the handy men, and they proved tliemse' ca admirable cicerones. At first tlw was a tendency to be reserved on the part of both hosts and guests, but this slight frigidity soon melted away, and the British sailors became extremely popular. Tho English Quay, lying opposite tho ai cliorage of the Blond and Boadicea, was crowded from morn till midnight, and the various contingents of ofiicers and men arriving from, ar.d departing to Cronstalt-, were most enthusasticaliy cheered. Many delusions long current here, amongst others, that all British people aro red-haired, wen dispelled, and it is to be hoped that the hardy belief that an Englishman naturally suffers from the " spleen " has followed utiler mistaken notions to obliyon. The Jack Tars won the hearts of all by their good conduct in the streets, parks, and restaurants (where, by the way, some proprietors insisted on making them their guests by refusing to accept payment).and by their reverent demeanour in the churches, the hief sights of St. Petersburg. The sailors were very pleased and surprised at the splendid reception extended to them, saying that they had experienced nothing like it before in France or Spain. The crew of the New Zealand could only compare it willi the never-to-be-forgotten welcomes received in New Zealand, and other ports, during the recent cruise of that ship. Bill, even St. Petersburg's welcome, warm as it was, could not wipe out the happy recollections of flie New Zealand tour. When I made myself known as a one-time resident of Auckland and Wellington, I was invariably greeted by the remark: "Don't I wish I weve there now ?" A stoker expressed a particular fondness Tor (ireymouth, where lie had been bar-bound for a week. At the sports meeting a hug" group of New Zealanders made the well; in ring with the song. "Take Me Buck to Rangiora." New Zealanders worthily upheld the Dominion's athletic reputation' by securing more than a fair share of the prizes. In return for the generous hospitality showered upon them, Admiral Beatty and his officers gaco a ball 011 the night ol June 27. Rarely has such a function had,, so beautiful a setting. The steamer conveying the guests from St. Petersburg, 011 I rounding the S E. point of Kronstadt. discovered'the Li in and New Zealand lying down together, and the whole fleet outlined in electric light, while the bunting used in dressi' g ship had its colours more vividly revealed than would have been possible by the brightest sunlight, by means of the rays of the searchlights projected on to them. The magnificent Naval Cathedral and tho Administrative buildings of Kronstadt loomed dark and impressive against the sunset-sunrise glow of the northern horizon, and the softness peculiar to a white night hung over all. The Lion served as a cloak and supper room, and the New Zealand, beautifully decorated, was turned into a ballroom. The Grand Di kes Cvril and Boris Vladimirovitch, aud tho wife oi the formci, the Grand Duchess Yictoiia Feodorovna, daughter of the late Duke of Edinburgh, and many representatives of 'official and social Russia were present, aud the ball was a great success. A halca danced by 20 of the crew of the New Zealand was a decided novelty to tho Ru*ians and had to be repeated. 'I hero were many inquiries as to Maori customs and as to the meaning of the names "Cook," " Tasman " and " Ao-te-aroa' inscribed on the turrets. Altogether the Dominion received a splendid advertisement by means of this line ship. On Monday Admiral Beatty and 20 officers. including Captain Halsev, went to Moscow and were shown over the ancient Kremlin and inspected the fine Tretiakoff Art Gallery and experienced an overwhelming Muscovite hospitality for two days. The citv of Moscow presented a loving cup to the fleet and to each of the visitors was given some rich souvenir of his visit. On Mondnv the squadron sailed frcm Cronstadt and proceeded to Finnish waters, there to coal, and the citizens of St Petersfnim and Croijstadt settled down to normal life once more with the pleasant lecling that, however dark the political future may become, I hey have a guarantee of peace because they have got to know and appreciate the English people through that best of ambassadors—Jack Par —and Jack, fm his part, hits learnt that 111 walking about SI. Petersburg one does not necessarily pick his way through exploding bombs and that the terrible Russians of his early imagination are the kindest, most poacoable alul most interesting people in the world.