ATLANTIC CROSSING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 4

ATLANTIC CROSSING

AUCKLAND WOMAN'S TRIP SUSPICIOUS VESSELS MET An exciting incident when crossing the Atlantic from England to New York was described by Mrs. H. D. M. Haszard, of Auckland, who has returned from a nine months' holiday abroad. After her sailing*-instructions had been changed several times at the last moment, Mrs. Haszard eventually sailed from England in a largo armed liner. When quite near Now York three small vessels with tall wireless masts were sighted, and the captain wirelessed asking their business. The reply was that they were Italian fishing vessels, which seemed ridiculous, so far from their country.

The guns on the liner were immediately trained on the boats, and the ship circled around them, keeping them in range all the time. Eventually a heavy fall of rain began, and in time the horizon was completely obscured, so tho captain took this opportunity of making full speed ahead. The ship on which Mrs. Haszard travelled relied upon its high speed for safety, she said. For three nights during the Atlantic crossing the passengers slept in their clothes, with their life belts and rugs in handy positions. Mrs. Haszard spent most of her holiday in England, but also toured through France, Switzerland, and Italy. She was much impressed with the change in Italy since her last visit 14 years before. Mussolini had certainly been a good angel to his people, who adored him, she said. The intensive cultivation of tho country, tho beautiful Forum built as a youth training centre, and the large slum clearance scheme in old Rome were in striking contrast to the Italy she had known before. While in Italy Mrs. Haszard had the good fortune to" attend a service at St. Peter's conducted by Pope Pius Nil. It was said that ho only attended St. Pe.ter's about once a year, and this particular occasion was the canonisation of a new saint. The Pope arrived in a spectacular procession, carried on a huge chair in mosaic and gold, and the people cheered wildly "Viva Papa," although they were inside tho church.