NAVY LEAGUE FUNCTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17726, 10 September 1919, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE FUNCTION.

ADDRESS TO THE CHILDREN-. Shortly after 4 p.m. Lord Jellicoo addressed a very large gathering of school children in His Majesty's Theatre. The citizens who occupied seats 011 the platform represented practically every side of public life. Bench and Bar, the Church, public bodies, and commerce wero ail well and substantially represented. On entering the theatre Lord Jellicoo and Staff wevo greeted with loud applause and cheers, and upon the Imperial party talcing their seats on tho stage the National Anthem was sung, and also a verse of "Rule Britannia." In the absence of Sir James Allen (president of the Otago branch of the Navy League, which -had inaugurated the gathering), the chair was occupied by i\lr J. A. Johnstone (vice-president), the nart the children took in the function being left to the direction of Mr W. J. Strong and assistants. Mr Johnstone, addressing the Admiral, said that on behalf of tho school members of the Ot-ago branch of the Navy League ho had to offer his Lordship a very cordial wclcome, and to tell him how great an honour these members esteemed it that he should have oomscnted to address them. Owing to tho present being their schools' • vacation period, ho regretted that the Otago Branch was not able to present for his inspection a full gathering of its stthool members. He might, however, be permitted to say that this branch had almost 5500 financial school members—a number that was not equalled, ho believed, by any other branch qf the league throughout the Empire. The Otago Branch had mainly concentrated its energies upon educational work among school children, and the work had grown from year to year, until today ho ventured to say it would not be possible to find elsewhero boys and girls who were more intelligently assured of the moaning of sea powsr, and of tho stern necessity that existed for the Empire to maintain its sea supremacy.—(Applause.) His Lordship recently in Claristehurch expressed tho belief that there was a tendency among branches of the Navy League unduly to emphasise tho spectacular features of the Navy, but, with profound apologies to his Lordship, they felt that this comment could hardly apply to tho work 01 tho Otago Branch They had never regarded it as their duty to "attempt to frame a naval policy, but they had contented themselves with teaching in season and out of season, what sea power was, how British sea power had grown, what responsibilities the possession of illis power entailed, and what they owed to the men who from tho days of Alfred the Great until tho present had so ably directed their naval policy and affairs.—(Applaaise.) They trusted that this gathering would afford h : s Lordship porno tangible evidenco of their work in this community. Addressing tho children, Mr Johnstone said ho had now tho groat honour of introducing to the Ijoys and girls present, who wero some of tho school members of tho Otigo Branch of the Navy League, their distinguished gwsh and speaker, Adj miral of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoo of Kcapa.—(Loud applau-rO Thoy wero all familiar with Lord Jellieoe'a work during the Great War when 1m was in supremo command of tho Grand Meet fnr two of the most eventful years in tho whole of Britain's

history, and when tho fato of tho Empire literally rested on his shoulders, for it w;ia the navy that stood between tho Empire and diro disaster.—(ljn'ud applause.) It was mainly due to Lord Jollicoe's grca. organising ability that tho Grand Fleet was in a. ready ami efficient .stut-u u;ion tho outbreak of war, and thus it was highly fitting that ho should be appointed tile Commander of the vast fighting agency lie. had helped to create.—(Applause.) They coulci havo no idea of tho tremendous load of responsibility tho command of tho Grand l'lcct entailed, but they paid thoir grateful thanks to his Lo.d.sTup for the way in which he justified their t ru£ ' m him whilo he was Commander-in-Chief of the fleets, and for tho splendid services he afterwards rendered tho Empire as First Sea Lord.— (Loud applause.) To his genhia v.-as due tho euccessful planning of tho great Zhcbruggo raid oh Sit. George's Day, 1918, and again Lord Jollicoo organised tho laying of tho groat chain of mines from tho Orkneys to Norway to block tho German submarines. But. in caso Lord Jellicoo should not toll them somo other facts about himeelf, thore wero a few words foe would like to say before calling upon hia Loril(Jiip for his address. To bcfpfi with, Lord •Tellicoo had always shown himself possessed of undoubted eci?ntific and intellectual genius, from tho days when he, as a lad of 13, passed out of tho training ship Britannia the head of his year by over 100 marks— (applause)—until to-day when ho came to them to adviso them how they wero to assist in tho maintenance of tho great fleet ho had helped to mako eo efficient, and tho reason Lord Jcllicoo had been sent to fldviso all the dominions on this subject was because ho was regarded as tho organising brain of tho whole fabric of tho Navy and Naval Defence. —(Applause.) He wanted them clearly to realise that Lord Jellieoo had worked his way up to his present exalted position solely by his own efforts and genius, and that ho owed his promotions to no political intrigues nor drawinfer-room influenoe.—(Applause.) Admiral Jellicoo was made Director of Ordnance because of tho remarkable standard

of gunnery reached bv tho vessels ho commanded; ho was appointed to tho command of tho Grand Fleet in 1914 because of tho groat ability ho had shown aa a naval strategist; ho was appointed First Sea Lord at the ond of 1916 because there existed tbo necessity for having tho best expert brain power in tho navy to direct tho naval conduct of ths -war; and finally, as he had already told them, Lord Jellicoe was sent rn his present mission because that mission demanded the keenest and most technical brain in the navy in order that it might bo successfully accomplished. For tlieso reasons they were proud that liis Lordship, tho natural successor of our Drakes, Nelsons, and other great leaders, the renresentativo of our glorious navy which had so effectually won the war for them was with them that <!nv, and lie .had very much pleasure in railing , upon him to address them and to tell them sometninjr of that navy in which they were all so nrofoiimlly 'interested.—(Loud and prolonged applause). LORD JELLICOE'S SPEECH. Lord Jellieoe, who was received with cheers on rising to speak, said he had not intended to talk to thorn about tho navy, because ho gathered that they knew all about that already. Ho did not know ouite how to begin if ho was to talk to them about tho navy, because ho had been talking about that ever since last February, and had inado about 122 speeches on thn subject. Ho therefore thought he had better begin by speaking to them about tho matter he had in mind. But first, ho wanted to say how very glad he was to seo so many boys and pirls present. Tho first thing 4io thought ho ought to speak to them about was patriotism, which ho knew was very strong in Now Zealand. It might not be, therefore, necessary to say much about it,' but ho fnlt that one could ii-nt bo too patriotic, and he was going to inflict a few words upon them. lie had seen it stated in on 0 of tho autograph, books ho had been asked to sign that patriotism began _ with a boy or a girl being nroud of their class at school and of their school, and that was quite true. Patriotism was really pride in one's country. Those in New Ze-aland had every reason to be proud of their country. The country was one anyone ought to be proud of. It produced everything except clothes, which was very different to England. As a consequence of that they had suffered a trying

time in England during the war. New Zealand also produced a magnificent race of people. Ho saw healthv boys and girls wherever ho went. They were ruddy with health—not like tho boys and girls in England ; nor like pome of tho boys and eirls in Australia, who looked as if* the climate did not agree with them. Hero in New Zealand the children all looked very healthy, and in their fathers and brothers they had seen what a magnificent race- New Zoalanders were by tho way they had fought for tho Empire.—(Applauso.) There was another thing ho had observed, and that was that Now Zealanders were very proud of 11.M.5. New Zealand.—(Applause.) He only wished that all tho boys and girls present could go on board the New Zealand. They would find a very hearty welcome, and officers and men would be only too anxious to show them everything, and put thoso small enough inside the guns. They were quite right to bo proud of theNew Zealand, because she had played a . great part in tho war. She had dono her duty to tho Empire to the best of her ability, tho same as the fathers and brothers of those present had don e on shore —(Applause.) "This," said Lord "is the place for the staff to .applaud. I didn't bring over tho applauding bluejackets •with me."—(Laughter.) Continuing, Lord Jellicoo said he would like to speak of the reason they ought to be proud of tho Empire to which New Zealand belonged. In tho first place it was the largest Empire the world had ever seen, and for that reason they ought to be proud of it. It was a quarter of tho whole world. If the population of the world was marched past this theatre, ono in every five would bo a Britisher. When they came to think of it theso were good reasons for prido in belonging to tho British Empire, which contained people of every colour—white, black, and yellow. And it contained those excellent fellows, the Maoris. Ho was not siiro of their colour, but they were one of tho finest races on earth from what lie had seen of them. They had shown in the old days when fighting us how fighting should bo carried on. Another cause for prido in tho Empire, and perhaps ■ the- greatest one, was that the British Empire _ had always stood for the cause ot civilisation. It had put down slavery and stopped piracy on tho seas, and had "made the ocean safe to commerce, and that perhaps was the greatest reason of all pride of Empire.—(Applause.) In this particular war thq-British Empire had not only saved the whole world, but the whole of civilisation, and ono of the things which startled tho Germans most, ho supposed, in the whole .war was the way in which the outlying dominions Ftood by the Motherland. Thcro their enemies saw 1.000,000 soldiers whom they never expected to see. —(Applause.) And to that milliqn Now Zealand had contributed her full share, if not more. Mho question was how best to show that they wore proud of their Empire, and that they wero patriotic. Tho first thing, to his mind, was foT the boys and girls as they grew up to show their determination that tho Empire which had boon handed down to them should bo maintained* in its glorious

-5 integrity. This could only be done by 5 hard work, and by courage. It was hard i work which had made tho Empire. It 3 was hard work which had jnadn Now ZeaI land what it was to-day, and unless the - present generation was prepared to work as • hard as thoso wlk> had" prone- before them, 3 they could not •expect to maintain their s supremacy, and the British Enirriro could 3 not remain the glorious Empire that it had - been in the past.—("lTcxr, hear," and api plause.) Work auch a-s ho had referred to - really meant doing one's duty. Everybody ■» had a diitv to perform in life, and although 1 perhaps they might not feel it whon young t they realised when they got older the'value i of having done their duty. That was the s feeling which most great men liad when I flying. Nelson's last words were: "Thank 3 God, I have done my dutv." Another case t was that of Henry Lawrence, whose epitan ] was: "Here lies Honry Lawrence, who tried b to do his duty." These wore both expres- -> sion3 of duty nobly performed. Another i oaso was that of a. boy dying happy in the /performance of his duty. • 110 referred to T,ni. r'- rn , t rn]] . Jack " Cornwall, as most of them probably knew was one ot a g-un'r, crew on the- lifrht 'f cruiser Chester. Sho had only had her crew on board six weeks, and of that ' time they bad only spent 12 days at f Bcapa Flow. He considered that six "weeks I was necessary at Soapi for the men to work , i up their fightins efficiency br-fore they went into action. Tho fact of the matter was , those men Iwd not boon there sufficiently 5 long to acquire first-class efficiency. The , Chester's work was that of a scout, and therefore, did not r,eqi]ire as much fight/ng efficiency. Three Ocraian cruisers her, and naturally she had to turn. She wns only under _ firo for about 20 minute; altogether, and it was during the first few minuten of the engagement thnt moH of hor guns -were disabled. Jack Cornwall ■was the solo survivor of on? pirn's crew nnd a'l.hough mortally wounded, he waited for orders. , TJe, (tho epeaker) knew no firtfr example of duty. A lad 16 years of

I ago, mortally wounded, remaininir at his j post waiting for ord«rs was somt-lhing grand — (IjOuil appla/use.) This, however, was only ono of probably thousands of crises that had occurred during thn war, both at sea, ami on land, of mon who laid <lir-d happy in tho knowledge that tlii/y had dono their J duty, ttoino of the relatives of many of thosn present had no dou)>t dono splendid work in tho groa.t war, and ono must bo proud that they had done their duty by tho Umpire.—{Applause.) 110 lu-ul talked a. great deal afx>ut things which rotUly applied to tho Jx>ys, but he hoprd tho girta would not feel tliat they had bom left out Tn tho first place they could not forget tho good work dono by tho \vomen and gir's in tho great war. —(Applause) Ono of the diitics of the women and .girls was to 'keep tho men up to ibo mark —(Laughter)—and ho thought that they succeeded in doing it. Ho believed the girls, provided they exorcised their minds and bodies in tho right way, could help tho Empire just as effectually as tho boys could. He supposed ho must Bay something about tho navy, although ho foJt it w;us superfluous, Ixrcauso of tho high standard of knowledge already possessed. No ono in command could bo without a feeling that everything depended upon those manning tho ships. Tho ships might bo the best in the , world, but ships were- no use unless there was tho real spirit aniorjg- tho people manning them. That spirit was what had brought tho British, navy successfully out of tho war. —(Applause.) Tho Germans, in sorrra cases, h-ad better ship? than wo had; they had better guns, better torpedoes, better mines in some cases, but they had not better men. —(Applause.) And that was just tho difference. Our men went through a period of gruat boredom at Saipa Flow. There was no spirit of boredom with thoso who had to keep at soa. They had no har-

bour into which they could go. They pushed into harbour, coaled, and went out again as 3oon as they could. Tha case of others was different, odd aa it might seem. _ Constant sea work told upon the, machinery, and tho German ships wore in repair, and our total ships got down almost as low in number as tho German, fletst. It was when tho men remained in harbour that thero was a danger of them, getting , stale, and rec-ans had. to bo found to keep officers and men fit. Thero wero various ways of doing that, suoh. as football, boat racing, and other forme of keepiag the men's minds ocoupied. Tho great thing was to keep the men nappy and fit, and unless poopk> were fit they could not do their duty. He would like tho boys to remember that in future We never knew when wo might be called upon to etand a heavy strain. And so one of tho first anxieties of tho comrnander-in-chief of a ftect was to keep up the spirits of hia commanding officers and men —keep them from getting stale, and. keep them fit. That applied moro to big ships than to smaller ships. The smaller vessels wore constantly at sea., and tho men had no chanco of becoming bor,cd. He thought convoying destroyers had tho hardest work of all. Aa a rule, the first thing thsy saw was tho track of a torpedo going towards a merchant. ship, and t'rvey would back over tho trade of the torpedo, because thero they knew tho submarine must have been. That sort of tiling would go on day after day and night after night. Wβ had been short of destroyers, and officers and rner. had begun to break down so s2riously in health that in 1917 ho had been very anxious indeed as to whether tho personnel of tho navy would etand the strain. They would not hava been able, to stand the strain if theso mon had not been kept fit, and-that v.-as why he said: "Boys, keep yourselves lit." He thought of his own children when ho looked round the building and saw so many happy and smiling faces. Thsy reminded him of hia own family and his home, and made him feel as if he would

liko to get back to them.—(Loud and prolonged applause.) At tho request of tho Chairman, a verse of the son# "Sons of tho Ssa ,, was then sung. Viscount Jellicoo said ho did. not wish them to think that their president (Sir James Allen) had been forgotten, although ho had been ably represented by Mr Johnstone, their vice-president. Ho (the speaker) ought to be the last person in the world to forget Sir Jamas Allen, with whom ho was privileged to come bo much in contact in connection with his present mission. It was also a real pleasure for him to have to come in touch with one who was president of tho Otago branch of tho Navy Leagues—(Loud and prolonged applause.) At the Admiral's request, three hearty cheers were given for Sir James Allen. . Subecqusntly three cheers were given for his Majesty tho King,"and a similar compliment was "paid to Admiral Jellicoe and his staff. BOXING TOURNAMENT. A bo.-ang tournament, under the auspices of tho Otago Boxing Association, was commenced in His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and will bo continued this evening. A number of competitors failed to put in an appearance, and tho association should endeavour to mako sure of tho men coming forward in order to keep faith with the public. Mr F. Foster acted as referee, and Messrs Batt and Dugald Paterson were the umpires. The timekeepers were Messrs H. Marshall and F. J. Campbell. "The Mayor (Mr W. Begg) and a number of city councillors were present on xlxc stage. Tho master of ceremonies (Mr H. H. S. White) said tha tournament was being held for the purpose of assisting financially the Returned Soldiers' Building Fund. He thought that when the building was completed it would be a splendid memorial of their soldiers and also an ornament to their city. Through the courtesy of Lord Jellicoe "a number of sailors from 11.M.5. New Zealand had been granted leave to travel to Dunedin to take part in the tournament. The speaker called for three cheers for tho sailor competitors, the spectators who filled tho building to the doors responding in a hearty manner. At the interval Lord Jellicoe came on to tho stage. He was accompanied by members of his staff, .Sir George Fenwick, and a. number of other well-known citizens. Mr White extended tho thanks of the Boxing Association to Admiral Jellicoe for attending their competition. He was sure it was unique in the history of the association to have such a distinguished visitor at one of their tournaments. —(Cheers.) Ho a'so thanked Admiral Jellicoe for allowing the sailors of the New Zealand to como to Dunedin to take, part in tho competitions. Dr Harrison (president of the Returned Soldiers' Association) thanked Admiral Jellicoe for attending the tournament. Tho speaker said that Admiral Jellicoo had signed a number of small naval ensigns— the first time ho had put his signature to such flags in New Zealand —and Sir George Fenwick had immediately given lOgns for one. The money was to go to tho soldiers' building fund. There were 50 signed flags, arxl anyono desiring to purchase one and incidentally assist their building , campaign could secure one from the Returned Soldiers' Asscciation's office. Admiral Jellicoe, who was received with cheers, spoke briefly and to the point. liesaid:—"l am told you are. waiting for mo to say something. What I am waiting for is what you are waiting for , —to see the next bout."—(Cheers.)

Tho following are the results: — FEATHER- WEIGHTS. J. Mitchell 9.0 (Dunedin) beat Middlemas 9.0 (Invercargill). Mitchell did most of tho leading in the opening round, and scored several times with straight lefts, establishing a lead on points. In the middle of the second round Middlemas's towel was *hrowu in in token of defeat. LIGHT-WEIGHTS. Cryer 10.0 IH.M.S. New Zoaland) beat E. Downes 10.0 (Dunodin). Tho bout was stopped by the referee beforo the completion of tlio first round. Cryor proving much too clever for his opponent. Cryor has a peculiar stance in the ring. 110 showed that ho was the possessor of a useful and vigorous left and right punch EXHIBITION BOUTS. D. Battle- 9.6 (H.M.S. New Zealand) met Thoma3 11.6 (H.M.S. New Zealand) in an exhibition bout. Mr White, stated that Battle had been light-weight champion of the Grand Fleet in 1916. An amusing on«round contest resulted, Battle, who displayod great cleverness, playing with hie opponent. Charles fH.M.S. New Zealand) mrt Rambridge (H.M.S. New Zealand). The content resulted in an exhibition of clever, fast boxing by both men, who also showed a lot of fiiw footwork. Charles being particularly light on his feet and doing "a kind of two-?tep. Both men were keen to lead, and Ttambrtdge got in some nico work witli left straights and swing?. The men broke away from the clutches in most praiseworthy fashion, and the referee did not require to call " Brrnk " right through the three rounds. A deciding two-minute round was added, and the two sailors brought down tne hous? with their antics, using their feet nov/ .-.nd again on each other in n. most laughable manner. Finally Rambridge went down to a light tap' to the f-;ce. and the count with a smile on his f-ei\ Tho boxers wrro heartily choer"d bv tho spectators for their vigorous display. aPxt br>ut was between Owen (H.M.S. i>jew Zcalcmc!) oad Battle. The

- ■ r— i opening round resolved itself into a. tapping match and was iaore or less farcical. The second round was much brisker, and Battlo sent his opponent down for tho count with a right to tho jaw. A i-pocial thivo-round bout; was announced l«;twc/m It. Withcy (Dunedin) and Charlea (11.M.b. Now /caland). Both men boxed I'leveny, the man-o'-warsman standing up wc.l to his bigger opponent. Tho lattor was, however, by no moans fully oxtcaidcd, but, landed some heavy punches towards tlie closo of tho second round. Both men wero applauded at tho conclusion of tho third round. Tlw final exhibition three-round tout was between Battlo 9.8 and Naylon 10.6 (InvercaxfiiU). The contest was a colourless' affair, and rousod very little interest. Neither man took matters seriously until tho final round. Tho overseas visitor then cut loose, and gave his taller opponent a bad threo minutes. SIX-ROUND BOUT. R. Campbell beat E. Donnells 10.1. J. ho first round saw Campboil using a most effectivo left, both men boxing cautiously. In the second round some- exciting rallies took place. Donnells relying chiefly on his right hand, and Campbell again getting in wmo nice, left hand blows, i> and attacking strongly. Tho third round , J saw Donnells trying to force, tho boxing, ■ with Campbell, whoso right cyo began to [ close, mixing it with his opponent in a ; determined manner. Their? wcro eomo i vigorous rallies in tho fourth rcund, both ; men taking heavy punishment. Donnells , was doing roost of the forcing in this round, [ but Oanipbcll came again just before tho ; gong wont, and scored with straight lefts. l Iho two men continued boxing at a fast . paco right through tho fifth round, Don- > nells doing most of tho leading. The sixth . round saw Campbell again using a strong 1 left, Donnells relying mostlv on his right, i Donnells tired a little towards tho finish. ; lhe contest provided ono of tho fastest - and cleanest exhibitions of boxing serai on , a local stage for a long time. A section I of the spectators thought fit to hoot tho i decision, but, though there could not have i been a great deal to choose between the > two,, there was no question that Campbell 1 scored tho greater number of points. L Tho following is the draw for to-night-.— ; Bantams (final)—H. Leckio (Dunedin) v. i J. Leyden (Dunedin). 3 Feathers (final)— Lee (Oamaru) v. Mitchell s (Dunodm). i Light (final)—Naylon (Invercargill) v. b Cryer (H.M.S. New Zealand): J. Marks 3 (Dunedm) v. H.M.S. Now Zealand. i Weltor-S. Marker- y IT M.S. New Zea--1 land: Naylon v. T. J. Harris. J Middle— J. Oxley (Dunedin) r. H. North - (Dunedin). 3 Hcayy—A. Smith (Oamaru) v. H. Whit--3 taker (Invercargill). 1 ™- Sp ™ ia, S'*™"'!'! Bout—A. Goodman v. 1 \V. Charles (H.M.S. Now Zealand). J A snccinl battle-rora! exhibition witl be ■> given by the men of H.M.S. Now Zealand. * PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY. 3 _ Th™ morning Lord .Tellico" wHI leave- for c ] l ort . Cllalr ners, whore he will board one of , the ferry steamjrs to in=t>ect the hnrba-ir I and the fortifications «t the' Hrads. In the : evening ho tvUI b? entertained afc a civic j dinner in tho Art Gdlery Hall