NAVAL DIVISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22466, 9 July 1936, Page 14

NAVAL DIVISION

CRUISER ACHILLES ARRIVAL BEFORE LONG IMPROVEMENTS AT BASE TANKS FOR OIL STORAGE [BY TELF.GRArn —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The first of the new cruisers for the New Zealand Division of tho Royal Navy, 11.M.5. Achilles, may arrive in the Dominion within tho next few months, according to a statement made by the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. F Jones, in an interview this evening. The Achilles, which is partially manned by Now Zealand ratings who previously served in H.M.S. Diomede, is at present 011 special service in tho Mediterranean. No ollicial advice has been received as to her future movements," but her departure for New Zealand iii tho near future seems likely. Tho second new cruiser, H.M.S. Leander, which will replace H.M.S. Dunedin, at present the flagship of Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond, should arrive from England toward the end of the year, or early next year. First to Arrive " Tho Diomede was called away for special service under the Admiralty last year," Mr. Jones said. " She was duo for replacement and, after her service in tho Red Sea, sho proceeded to England, where sho was paid otf. Her Now Zealand ratings joined tho Achilles, but as a residt of .1 request from the Admiralty we agreed that tho new cruiser should spend some time on special service on the Mediterranean station. It seems possible that that special service will terminate before long and that the Achilles will then leave for New Zealand." According to present arrangements, Mr. Jones continued, it appeared that the Achilles would still bo the first of the new cruisers to arrive in Now Zealand. Normally she should have joined the New Zealand Division by now. The arrival of the new cruisers would necessitate a considerable amount of work at the Devonport naval base. The present length of Calliope Wharf was insufficient to permit of tho Achilles and Leander berthing end to end, and it had been suggested that the wharf should be lengthened .toward Stanley Bay. Negotiations were at. present proceeding between the Government and the Auckland Harbour Board. Arrangements were being made for the* installation of new machinery so that the new cruisers could bo refitted locally and consideration would also have to bt; given to the question of fuelling. Sites For Proposed Tanks

The new cruisers would have a much longer cruising radius than tho warships which they were replacing, and consequently there would not be the same demand for fuelling at sea. The Admiralty oil tanker Nucula was proving expensive to maintain, and a proposal which was being considered was that sho should be scrapped and that additional oil tanks should be provided at Auckland for naval fuel. Space for that purpose at the Devonport naval base was extremely limited, but it had been suggested that the tanks jnight be erected in Shoal Bay, with a pipeline running over the cliff to the base.

" There are many other dotails which require consideration with regard to naval defence," Mr. Jones said. " Part of the policy of the last Government was that ultimately the training ship Philomel should be scrapped and that shore barracks should be provided for the training of recruits. Some land is available at the top of the cliff overlooking the naval base, but the present Government has yet to consider the whole matter and decide whether or not td follow this particular line of policy." Rebuilding of Jetty A work scheduled for an early start was the straightening and rebuilding of the training jetty at which the Philomel was berthed. The present jetty ran at an angle from the entrance to Calliope Dock and was inconveniently situated. It had been arranged that tho jetty should be rebuilt so as to continuo the line of the shoreword 6ide of the dock. The Government and the Auckland Harbour Board would share the cost equally. Work was also proceeding 111 the erection of stores and other necessary buildings at Kauri Point, said tho Minister. When the additional facilities at Kauri Point were coinploted they would relieve to a considerable extent the pressure on spaco at the base itself.