FLEET INSPECTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24894, 16 May 1944, Page 5

FLEET INSPECTED

KING'S FOUR-DAY VISIT TASK IN NEAR FUTURE UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE I ■■ HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE - (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 14 The King has visited the Home Fleet to take leave of his captains and bid them and their ships' companies Godspeed before going to battle, says the Press Association's correspondent with the Home Fleet. He adds: " The King, in four crowded days, boarded 14 ships and inspected representative detachments from nearly every ship in the great fleet assembled in these cold, lonely northern waters.' , - ■ , "As a compliment to the Fleet Air Arm, His Majesty put to sea in an aircraft-carrier and saw planes re-enact their attack against the German battle ship Tirpitz in Alten Fiord, Norway, oi April 3. It was the first time he ha< been on an aircraft-carrier at sea. Midget Submarines "The King was also on the bridge > a famous destroyer, and took part i. a mock U-boat hunt. He then went oi a midget submarine. From th 6 parefit ship he inspected the tiny craft which attacked the Tirpitz, and also saw human torpedoes dive under the ship.' 1 Nearly every ship which the King boarded had seen action in recent months. In one cruiser he saw the men in the furs and sheepskin clothing which they wear when escorting Arctic convoys. He also saw a* "blue certificate," signed by Neptune, which is presented to every ship that crosses the Arctic Circle. * . In another ship His Majesty met a captain of the Russian Xavy_ who is a liaison officer with the British Fleet. It was his first meeting with a Soviet naval officer since the war, and he invited the Russian officer into the captain's cabin for a talk. ( Impressive-Ceremony After a dinner party given to admirals and senior officers on the first night of his visit, the King came on to the quarterdeck to see the impressive ceremony of "Sunset." With naval officers from the Dominions and India, he stood at the salute and watched the five Empire ensigns of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India sink slowly from the yardarm. The King boarded a cruiser which has been converted into a training ship under the Admiralty's new scheme for the selection of men for commissions. One rating he saw was Ordinary-Seaman Erskine "William Gladstone, _ greatgrandson of the famous Prime Minister. "My great-grandmother used to see i lot of your said the King. "Meeting you here is history. 1_ wonder what they would think of it. Another officer candidate in the ship is a 43-year-old former rag and bondman. The King was told that he was doing very well. Tribute to Efficiency

Before the end of his visit the King attended a staff conference in the flagship and took part in a secret discussion on an impending operation. - In a signal to the Commander-in-Chiet, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, His Majesty said:

"The last few days have given me an opportunity once more of seeing for myself in what a high state.of efficiency the Home Fleet always maintains itself, and how ready it is to take any measures necessary, either for the discomfiture of the enemy or the defence of these islands. "Much has been asked of the Fleet in the past, and it is certain to he called upon for an even greater undertaking in the near future. In whatever enterprises may be entrusted to you, you have -my unshakable confidence that you will discharge them well and faithfully, and my prayers for your success." The Commander-in-Chief replied: "With humble duty and from our hearts we thank Your Majesty for your gracious message and for, your visit, which we all have so immensely enjoyed."

KING TAKES SALUTE PARADE OF HOME GUARD LONDON, May 14 The King took the salute from over 5000 Home Guard officers and men marching past a dais in Hyde Park this afternoon on the occasion'of the fourth anniversary of the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers (later known as ths Home Guard). It took the twomile column, in full battle equipment. 35 minutes to pass the dais. The crowd of many thousands lining the route saw the latest Home Guard weapons, including artillery and anti-aircraft guril of varying patterns.

PRIEST DISCIPLINED SEQUEL TO MOSCOW VISIT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 16 Father Orlemanski, the Roman Catholic priest from Springfield, Massachusetts, who recently visited Marshal Stalin at Moscow, has been ordered to retire to a monastery of his own choosing. The order was made by Father Orlemanski's superior. Bishop O'Leary, who also divested Father Orle-' manski of his right to perform the divine office.

Father Shea, Bishop O'Leary's spokesman, said these penalties were invoked because Father Orlemanski had absented himself without his bishop's permission, and had treated with Communists, in particular with Marshal Stalin and M. Molotov. This, in view of the utterances of several Popes against Communism, was considered a violation of canonic law.

Father Orlemanski said: "1 am being crucified for my Church. I went to Moscow to see what I could do for the Catholic Church in Poland, the Ukraine and White Russia, but Marshal Stalin made it universal. fie went beyond my expectations, and agreed to co-operate with the Church against persecution anywhere." Father Shea announced that Father Orlemanski had decided to accept Bishop O'Leary's instructions. He was leaving within a week. The length of time he spends .in would depend on the length of public interest in the case, added Father Shea. "It is customary to wait until a matter like this has quietened down, and then settle it privately," he said. Father Shea said the Church authori-

ties were still officially unaware of and largely unconcerned with the nature of Father Orlemanski's conversations with Marshal Stalin and M. Molotov. He said Father Orlemanski was able to despatch any information or documents to the Holy See through the Delegate in Washington. GANDHI TAKING REST NEW DELHI. May 14 Mr. Gandhi ha;s decided to observe silence for two weeks in order to secure an uninterrupted rest. The silence fill be broken earlier if it has an adverse effect. Mr. Gandhi's doctors state' that he spent a good night and is feeling more rested. > Mr. Gandhi is contemplating coming to terms with the Government and the Moslem League, savs the Daily Telegraph. An agreement with the Moslems would be on the basis of self-determina-tion for Moslem India. The agreement with the Government would be a conditional and tuietjiiivocal declaration that India would bo free after the war. An early meeting between Mr. Gandhi and Jinnah i& expeo£ed«