RETURN OF WARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 12

RETURN OF WARSHIPS.

OPERATIONS IN THE GULF.

YOUNG SEAMAN DROWNED,,

NAVAL RESERVE TRAINEES.

GOOD EXPERIENCE GAINED, Tho cruiser Diomede returned to port late on Wednesday night after carrying out ten days' gunnery practice in the B'auraki Gulf. Tho vessel was to have returned yesterday afternoon with the flagship Dunedin, but left the practice ground early on account of a seaman, Alexander James Rhi&d, aged 17, contracting appendicitis. As soon as the vessel had berthed at Sheerlegs Wharf he was transferred to tho Auckland Hospital, where an operation was performed yesterday. , H.M.S. Dunedin, which berthed alongside the Diomede yesterday afternoon, had tho latter part of her training marred by an unfortunate incident last Sunday night, wh'on a seaman, Allan Williaci Miller, single, aged 29, was drowned. The warships were anchored off Waiwera, about half-a-milo from the wharf, and Miller tried to swim out to join his ship. He was fully clothed at the time and the water was very cold. The man was seen to leave the wharf, but was not seen again. He was listed as missing, and the whole of tho following day was spent in dragging tho vicinity, without result. Miller had served about 12 years in the Navy, and joined the New Zealand division about a year ago,, being transferred from Homo waters with several other ratings. The foreshore in this vicinity is very dangerous, on account ' of a strong current from tho month of the Puhoi River. Search for the Awarua. The two vessels carried out highly successful work, although the Dunedin's practice was interrupted by her search for the steamer Awarua on the East Coast. The weather remained fine for practically tho whole period, enabling operations to bo carried out without, interruption. Two parties of Royal Naval Reserve volunteers again accompanied the vessels. Twenty men and a petty officer were placed on the flagship and ten men on the Diomede. Those on the Dunedin bad an unexpected adventure in the search for the Awarua, and were given an insight into the quiet efficiency of the " silent service." " There is no doubt about tho way the Navy does things," said one member of the reserve yesterday, recounting the Dunedin's answer to the orders to search for the Awarua. " There was as much fuss on board as if we had been ordered into battle, that is, none at aIL You people who livo all your lives on land could never appreciate being on a warship cutting through huge seas at 20 knots," he added, with the air of an experienced sailor. "It was a thing you could not forget," he continued, with tho enthusiasm of the novice. " We were taking great waves aboard fore and aft, yet the speed never slackened. If it did nothing else, the rescue of the Awarua certainly showed ns the spirit of the

Navy." Tribute from Commodore,

Commodore Swabey voiced his praise of the way the volunteers had carried out their duties. They had been, regarded as members of the vessels' crews, and had been placed in the men's messes. Although many were new to the life of the Navy at sea, they had shown, a willingness to work and to learn., and had shown great enthusiasm. H.M.S. Dunedin will leave port on Monday, and will visit Tauranga, Opo» tiki, Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne, Ficton and Wellington. She is due at the lastmentioned port on October 20, where she will be joined by the Diomede, which is to leave Auckland on October 18. The crews of both vessels will then undergo a musketry course at Trentham, commencing on October <!5.