THE CRUISER TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18999, 23 October 1923, Page 8

THE CRUISER TOUR.

The projected Empire cruise of a British naval squadron opens up an attractive prospect for the people of the dominions. Referring to the subject at the Imperial Conference, the First Lord of the Admiralty conveyed some information respecting the vessels which are to make (the grand tour, and it is uncommonly satisfactory to note that they will include the greatest and most modern of British battleships, H M.S. Hood, in which are embodied various lessons taught by the war with respect to the construction of capital ships. In addition to the Hood, there will be another great ship in the Repulse, an armoured cruiser of the Renown type, and a squadron of light cruisers. Among the light cruisers will be the New Zealand, formerly called the Dunedin, which is destined to remain in these waters as successor to the Chatham. The itinerary of the cruise will take in South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is safe to say that the effect of such a spectacular visitation will be to quicken the interest of the dominions in the navy, and bring homo to them their responsibility in assisting in the maintenance of the arm upon which they are so dependent for security. The Hood will throw into the shade in point of tonnage and armament any warship that has previously visited the outlying parts of the Empire. She is bound, therefore, to be a centre of immense interest. Could it bo arranged that Sir Percy Scott should accompany the vessel, and deliver from her quarter-deck lecturettes on the uselessness of a battleship, the enthusiasm would no doubt be tremendous. The Repulse is a considerably larger and more modern vessel than the old New Zealand—now relegated to the tender mercies of the ship-breakers—which but a few years ago seemed so close to the last word in naval architecture for a ship of her type. The New Zealand came to the Dominion under unique circumstances, but the visit of the Hood and her consorts will in its way be an event also remarkable. The New Zealand made a triumphal progress from port to port on the coast of the Dominion. It is' scarcely to be expected, perhaps, that the Hood and the Repulse will do anything of the kind, but it is earnestly to be hoped that the accompanying lurbt cruisers at least will it as many ports as possible.