LONDON'S OWN WARSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19781, 31 October 1927, Page 7

LONDON'S OWN WARSHIP.

LAUNCH OF Nl-W CRUISER. PICTURESQUE CEREMONY. [from our own correspondent. ) LONDON, Sept. 21. London's own warship, the new county class cruisei, H.M.S. London. was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard a few days ago in h. ivy ram. The naming cere mony was pet lorrnec! by the Lady Mayoress ol London, Lady Blides, who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor, .Sir Rowland Blades. Distinguished naval men present included Earl Jellicoe. A guard of honour of Royal Marines received the Lady Mayoress, who took her place on a crimson-coloured stand. A bottle of Australian wine was framed in flowers and suspended by cords to the end of the ship. After a religious ceremony and the singing of hymns by a choir ol girls and boys, Lady Blades, lifting the frame of Bowers, smashed the bottle of wine against the hull of the 10,000-tons ship and said: "I name this ship London. Uod bless the ship and ail who sail in her.' The Lady Mayoress then took a chisel and woodei mallet from a beautifully carved oakon box and severed the rope which bou/id the ship to the stages. She hammered away vigorously for a couple of minutes before she could cut the rope The rope parted suddenly and the noisp of the mooring shores and blocks seemed to startle Lady Blades for a moment. Amid tumultuous cheering. H.M.S. London glided slowly and gracefully down the slipway, the great Union Jack at her bow flying bravely in the breeze. The men standing in her deck cheered m response No details are yet available as to the London's construction, but it ts understood that she has a length of 590 ft. and will be etigined for a speed of knots