HOMEWAED BOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 10

HOMEWAED BOUND

REMAINDER OF THE CRUISE.

MANY POETS TO VISIT.

WARSHIPS TO DIVIDE.

DUE HOME IN SEPTEMBER.

The departure from Auckland of the Special Service Squadron marks the beginning of the voyage back to England. The ships are "homeward bound,' having completed what possibly will prove to be the most important half of their globeencircling cruise. Within a short time of leaving New Zealand the squadron will cross the 180 meridian of longitude and then will have completed exactly half of ts circumnavigation. Then heading

to the north-east they will traverst the wide Pacific with calls at Suva, from May 21 to 27, Apia, in passing, and Honolulu from June 6 to 12. On the North Pacific coast the squadron will divide, the battla cruisers proceeding home via the Panama Canal and the light cruisers by the much longer route through the Strait of Magellan. Already the vessels of the squadron in their wanderings since they left England last Nevember, have crossed the equator three times—once in the Atlantic and twice in the Indian Ocean. At the beginning of June, when midway between Fiji and Honolulu, they will add one more to their line crossings. For the battleships that will.be, the last time they _ will pass over the equator before arriving at their home ports. But the light cruisers, in their long southerr and northern passages around Soutl America, still have an additional two crossings of the line to make before thej have their anchors down in Englisl ground.

Calls in North Pacific. The ports on the North Pacific coasts to '<" be favoured with visits by some or other of these British ishting ships are Esquimalt, light cruisers from June 21 to, July 5; Victoria (Vancouver Island), battle cruisers and Adelaide', from June 21 to 25; Vancouver, battle cruisers and Adelaide from June 25 to July 5; the entire squadron reassembling at' San Francisco from July 8 to 11. The battle cruisers will then head a,way for the Panama Canal, passing Panama and Colon on July 23 and 24, passing through the Caribbean Sea, calling at Jamaica from July 26 to 30. and thence to Halifax, where they 'will remain from August 5 to 15, and Quebec from August 18 to September 2. Having "topped up" with oil fuel at Nova Scotia betwen September 4 and 17, they will cross the Western Ocean to' their destined home ports where they are due at the close of September. '

Around South America. For the light-cruisers the run along the seaboards of South America will be punctuated by calls at numerous ports The first place of call is Callao, Peru's chief port. The most southerly port in the world. Punta Arenas, in the torturous and windy Strait of Magellan, will be visited by all the light cruisers. This channel from the South Pacific to the fcouth Atlantic, the use of which avoids the rounding of that notorious headland. Cane Horn, was, not so many years ago, eonsidered by underwriters as more dangerous than the Cape Horn passage, but. with more improved lighting and charting th& strait is now . regularly used iby homeward-bound pß,sSen(ger liners. In the old days hundreds of ships rounded the Horn in the course of 3 year. Now, with sailing ships almost vanished from the seas, and steamers using the strait,, the region of Cape Horn must be one of the lonliest sea areas in the world.

The squadron of light cruisers will be at Punta Arenas in the middle of August, a period of the year when cold and stormy weather may be expected, and their companies, will. doubtless De glad when they pass clear of Cape ae las Virgenes and head away to the northward running into warmer weather every day. While in the far south, that distant British possession, the Falkland Islands, is not to be forgotten, for the Dauntless will separate- hers«?<f, from the other vessels, and run across to the group for a two days' stay, doubtless at Port Stanley, which place, in thof days of sai'V welcomed many a "'lame duck": putting back after a severe mauling by the storm fiends of the Horn.

Three Beautiful Harbours. Five j ports m South America—two in Argentint, one in Uruguay, and two in Brazil— be visited. All the light cruisers will drop anchor in the beautiful bay of Rio' de Janiero, and thus their companies; who already have visited Sydney and Auckland will have- had their vision delighted by the scenery of three of the most picturesque harbours of the world. : Separating from Rio de Janeiro there will come the long northeasterly run to Las Palmas, ' and having take! l fuel oil on board the squadron will hasten " noTtliward and * homeward. According to plan, the vessels should bo safely moored in their desired haven a couple of days or so after the battle cruisers arrive* ■'..>" So will terminate one of the most momentous warship cruises of recent times. The mud of many distant harbours. British and foreign, will have been hosed from .these vessels' anchors and cables since they put forth to sea last year, bound round the world, to "show the flap" to England's far-flung Dominions, dependencies and colonies, as well as to a number of foreign States. Thu 10 months' cruise was not embarked upon without a great deal of planning, and if, as doubtless will bo the case, the ships make their arrival at the ports yet to be visited according to schedule date, the voyage will stand as a strikinc example of :; efficiency and organising skill on the part of the British Admiralty.

Conclusion of Programme. The following is the detailed programme for the cruise of the light cruisers after leaving San Francisco :— Callao, all vessels, from July 26 to 31 Valpnriso, Dauntless and Dragon, August 5 and 6: Delhi and Danae, August 5 to 10; Talcahuano, Dauntless and Dragon, August 7 to 11; Punta Arenas, all vessels, August 15 and 16; ; Faulkland Islands, Dauntless, August 18 to 20; Bahia "Planca, Draeon. Aucrust 19 to 24: Buenos Aires, Delhi and Danae, August 21 to 26; Monte Video, Dauntless, arrives Autfust 24, Dracon, arrives August 26, both vessels leave August 30. Santos Delhi and Danae, August 29 to September 2. Rio de Janeiro, all vessels, September 3to 10. Las Palmas, all vessels, September 23 to 25. Home ports September 30 to October 1.