ACHILLES' RETURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 10

ACHILLES' RETURN

ABSENCE IN ENGLAND CRUISER DUE THIS MORNING BERTHING AT TEN O'CLOCK The cruiser'Achill as is cine to at the Devonport IS'avfl.l Base at 'lft o'clock this morning on her return after about five months' absence for rpcommissioning in England. She is nonr commanded by Captain W. E. Parry, an English officer of wide torpedo and anti-submarine experience, and has a complement, officers and crew, of 520. Half the crew are Now Zealand ratines, and the other half are Imperial men. There are 60 Royal Marines on board, including 12 members of the band. While she was in England, the Achilles underwent a complete refit, had repairs made to equipment, and received fresh armaments. From Portsmouth she went to Gibraltar, taking 50 other seamen a.i passengers, and while there she tri ;d outi her anna-. ments and exercised with the second cruiser squadron. Oa her way to New Zealand she called at Malta, Aden, Colombo Singajore. Among the officers there is one New Zealander, Lieuten int R. E. Wash-; bourn, formerly of Nelson, who entered the Navy in 192S i nd later served in the Diomede.

The cruiser's forward programme is not yet known, bul> she is not expected to leave port again for gome time. When she arrives thisf morning, relatives and friends, of those on beard will be permitted ts enter the naval Ibase.