FRENCH WAR SLOOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 12

FRENCH WAR SLOOP

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND SALUTES AND CEREMONIAL - , FINE MODERN VESSEL STAY OF ELEVEN DAYS // ith the morning sun gleaming on tor silver grey paintwork and with the tricolour of France flying from stem and stern, the French war sloop Savorgnan do Brazza entered the Waiteinata at about eight o'clock yesterday morning on an official visit to Auckland in the course of an extended Pacific cruise. As she rounded North Head tho sloop fired a salute of 21 guns, which was answered, gun for guri, by tho battery at Fort Cautley. As the Savorgnan do Brazza came abreast of H.M.S. Philomel she fired a salute of 11 guns to the broad pennant of Commodore F. Burges Watjon. This was answered, gun for gun, from the saluting battery at the naval base, while the French ensign was flown from tho masthead of the Philomel. After medical inspection in the stream the Savorgnan do Brazza berthed at Central Wharf, which, before long, was crowded with interested onlookers, including the inevitable small boys in search of new varieties of match box tops. Bound of Official Calls Shortly after the sloop had berthed

an official call was paid on her by the officer of the guard from H.M.S. Philomel. Later Commander J. Rosati, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Midshipman Veron, and M. Edouard Joui bert, French 'Consul in Auckland, paid official calls at Government House, on the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at tlie Town Hall, and on Commodore F. Burges Watson 011 board H.M.S. Dunedin, flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. During the afternoon, the visitors called on Colonel J. E. Duigau, commanding the Northern Military Command. The calls were returned on board the Savorgnan de Brazza, and when Commodore Burges Watson arrived on the sloop he was accorded another salute of 11 guns. The S&vorgnan de Brazza is one of the most recent additions to the French Navy and has been specially designed and built for service in the tropics. She was launched at Bordeaux in July, 1931, and was commissioned early this year, leaving Lorient in February for an extended cruise before taking up her station at Saigon, the capital of French Indo-China. The sloop visited France's African possessions before coming through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. Calls were made at the Marquesas Islands, ft lonely French colony near the equator, and Tahiti. The sloop also visited Pago Pago and Apia before coming to Auckland. The warship is a vessel of graceful appearance. Her silver grey paintwork is in marked contrast to the darker "battleship grev" of British warships. She has fine lines and might easily be mistaken for a large pleasure yacht were it not for the presence of her guns and searchlights and the unmistakeable bridge and masts of a warSl "P-

Luxurious Cabins " The sloop's decks are all of teak and on the upper deck there is a large clear space for the carriage of a light seaplane; However, aircraft is not yet carried on board. Improvements have to be made to tho landing gear and then the seaplane will be shipped from France to Saigon. . The interior fittings of the warship, particularly - in the officers' quarters, reach heights of luxury. The commander's suite, looking out on the quarter deck, is beautifully furnished and decorated, with modern wallpaper in pastel shades and panelling in a light, highly-polished tropical ; wood. The officers have bedsteads m place ot bunks, and every cabin is bright and airy. There is also a special suite, beautifully furnished and decorated, prorided for the use of colonial governors ivho may travel on the sloop during her cruises. The cabins in general are comparable with first-class accommodation on modern liners which visit Auckland. Special accommodation is provided for ratings. Ik. addition to tho ordinary mess decks, there is a large airy room on the upper deck for the use of the crew. Career of Commander The ratings are nearly all Bretons, short but sturdy fellows. They are recruited mostly from fisherfolk in . Brittany. . The Savorgnan de Brazza is manned by 13 officers and 130 men. The captain, Commander Rosati, has had a distinguished career in the Frency Navy and {or some years was French naval attache at Tokio. He has also served in. Chrna and has had six years of previous experience on the Far Fast station. During the war Commander Rosati served in destroyers in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, . . , Commander Rosati speaks J'jiigiish fluently and said yesterday that his first impressions of New Zealand had delighted him. "My officers and 1 hope to see some of your beatititul country," he said "We have heard of it even in France." He stated that during the two week-ends that the sloop would be in port it would be open for inspection by the public 011 Saturday tind Sunday afternoons. Lieutenant Lavole is second-in-com-hiand of the sloop. Named Alter Explorer

The sloop is named after a famous explorer, who was born in Italy in 1852 but later became a naturalised Frenchman and served in the French Navy. He headed expeditions to explore the Congo territory and died in 1905. A fcilken banner, bearing his arms, and various portraits of Savorgnan <le Brazza, arc displayed in parts of the fchip. A . dinner in honour of the commander and officers of the Savorgnan do Brazza was given at the Grand Hotel last evening by M. Joubert. Naval officers, members of the Consular Corps and representative citizens were present. This morning Commander Rosati will call on Mr. T. B. Clay, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, and Mr. H. B. Burnett, superintendent of the board. The calls will later be returned on board the sloop. Later the officers will be the guests of Commander P. B. j> W. William-Powlett on board H.M.S. Dunedin. Various entertainments are being arranged ashore for petty officers and sailors, the programme being in the hands of M. Joubert. In addition, the Government is extending to Commander I'osati and his company the courtesies usual on such occasions, arid Mr. Dl Ar.dcll, of the Department of Internal Affairs, is arranging for a party of officers to visit Rotorua and Waitomo early next week. Detachments from the Savorgnan dp Brazza will attend ceremonial parades on Saturday and Sunday on the occasion of the King's Birthday and the consecration of the King's Colours of tlio Auckland Regiment respectively. The sloop will be in port for 11 days and sail for Saigon, via Noumea, the Ni'iv Holiritlpt; anil Port Moresby.