AUSTRALIAN CRUISERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN CRUISERS

DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND GUNNERY PRACTICE IN GULF. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 6. The visit to Auckland of the Australian cruisers Australia and Canberra, whose officers and men alike have been among the most popular naval visitors Auckland has ever had, ended this morning when the ships sailed for Hauraki Gulf. Several, thousand people lined the wharves to watch their departure at 9 o’clock, and the flagship’s band played “Anld Lang Syne.” The New Zealand cruisers had sailed earlier, the Diomede taking the battle practice target with her for use in three days’ gunnery exercises, in which all four ships, as well as the New Zealand seaplane and Australian flying boats, will take part. A MIMIC ENGAGEMENT TORPEDO ATTACK LAUNCHED. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 6. A New Zealand Herald reporter on hoard H.M.S. Dunedin reports by wireless that spectacular exercises by the Australian and New Zealand squadrons were carried out in Hauraki Gulf to-day. The New Zealand cruisers prepared to act as targets for a long-range torpedo attack by the Canberra and the Australia with torpedoes with practice heads. The big cruisers manoeuvred into position about six miles away, while the target ships with the Dunedin in the lead performed crazy zig-zags with the object of baffling the attacking squadron. Their wake left a weird futuristic pattern on the smooth surface of the sea. Meanwhile, the Australian cruisers were speeding along at 25 knots. Suddenly huge founts of spray appeared alongside them, visible even at a distance of six miles, indicating that the torpedoes had been fired. Two were discharged from each ship, and then the attacking squadron swung round to launch a further attack from the port side. The Dunedin and the Diomede continued to zig-zag amazingly, while keen eyes watched for the tracks of the approaching torpedoes. Evidently one was seen to pass between the ships, while another passed astern of the Diomede. Another torpedo attack was carried out in the afternoon with the Australian cruisers acting as targets for the New Zealand ships.