AT PORTSMOUTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 6

AT PORTSMOUTH

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY ON THE RENOWN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association 'LONDON, March 16. Mr John Sandes. special correspondent of the Australian Press Association with the Prince of Wales, writes from Portsmouth os follows: —The week s delay due to quarantine was well'utilised by the crew of the Renown, which is now epic and span. Admiral Halsey gave a dinner party in the beautiful dining-room, which has been fitted up for the Prince, and which opens into a semi-circular sitting-room rextending across the upper deck, well aft. The decorative scheme is simple -but effective. The pictures are mostIs 1 , fine old engravings of famous British sea fights and portraits of great !■ statesmen of bygone days. Silver in the dining-room and fresh flowers matching the colour scheme in each • room lend richness to the general ef- : feet. The life and routine on hoard the battle-cruiser has already commenced. The ceremony of slowly lowering the White Ensign, while two buglers standing side by side sounded the call at sunset, and every ship in the old war harbour lowered its ensign in unison, seemed unusually impressive. A few hundred yards away lies Nelson’s Vic- ; tory, recalling the famous fight which .safeguarded Australasia for the people of British stock, and prepared the way for this voyage, THE GREIAT BATTLE-CRUISER RENOWN. A great battle-cruiser ’carries the beir to the British Crown to visit distant .nurslings of sea power. There have been many Renowns in the Royal Navy, and peculiarly associated with Royalty. The present Renown was not commissioned until after Jutland, sho then became one of the First Cruiaci Squadron. She afterwards constants . patrolled German waiters in an endeavour to tempt the German Fleet out. HEAVY LOAD OF RESPONSIBILITY. Commander Campbell, the navigating officer, has a -heavy load of responsibility this voyage. Tho Cuiebra ■Cut w only three times tho Renown’s width, and only in tho centre of tbs’ Panama Canal is the water deep* enough for her draught. ' Also, il rough weather should prevail on arrival at the entrance to Port Phillip, it is probable that the passage of tho rip will not be attempted. Tho Renown draws 31£l, a margin of safety too small in" had weather. Tho chart of the voyage, posted yesterday in the ward-room, shows thu* San Francisco will be visited, aleo the possessions of the West Indies on the return voyage. The Renown i» timc-il to be back in Portsmouth on October Uth. ' THE ROYAL TRAIN ARRIVES. "The Royal train arrived at four in the afternoon. Tho *Princt, attended by ' Admiral Halsey, alighted and was re- , ceived by Admiral Burney, Command-er-in-Chief of Portsmouth, General Blackadder, commanding the military forces, the Commander of tho Docki yard, and the Mayor of Portsmouth. ; The Renown was dressed in flags, as also were all ships in the ■ harbour,' including tho Victory. The crew wore drawn up on the quarter deck, and tho band of Marines played the National Anthem as the Prince came on

board. Ho proceeded at once to shake ' hands with all the officers and to inspect tho crow. AN CEREMONY. . ,-Asu.th© Prince,'\Htli,.his, slight boy* ish figure,, walked slowly past th© two great fifteen-inch guns, pointing side by side to seaward, the scone on deck was brilliant with a blazo of scarlet, where "tho Marines were drawn np, and tho glitter of gold lace and naval uniforms. Tho saluto guns roared a welcome, and the .impressive httlo ceremony was—soon—over—.... Ibe Renown drew into the stream at—O-30 for her long voyage. ■ - ■ . Tho “Evening News’ publishes a set of farewell versos addressed to "The Happy Prince,” by Mr John Sandss, tho Australian Press Associa* tion’s special correspondent. THE’ TR IP' TH KG UGH— PANA MA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 16Owing to the recent landslide the Panama Canal is temporarily closed to heavy draught vessels- No official intimation of stoppage ha* been received. therefore it is’ assumed that the canal will be -cleared, before the Renown" arrives? -• It* is -unlikely that the Prince’s programme will be affected. WASHINGTON, March 18. Several members of the British Embassy have left for Panama to take part in tho ceremonies arranged for the al rival of the Prince of Wales on March 30th. The President of the Republic of Panama will give a grand ball in honour of the Prince. , VOTE FOR EXPENSES. LONDON, March 17. The House of Common© has agreed to vote £20,000' for the Prince’s mission to Australasia. . ■