IN BRITISH PORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 5

IN BRITISH PORT

AMERICAN DESTROYERS FLOTILLA ARRIVES GREAT ENTHUSIASM (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 29. (Received Sept. 29, at 8 p.m.) The first flotilla of destroyers acquired from the United States arrived at a British port to the accompaniment of tremendous enthusiasm. The leader will soon be renamed Churchill. A flying boat spotted the destroyers in the Atlantic and dived in salute before returning to its base. The ships were tied up without ceremony. All are of the 1200-ton, flush deck class, contemporaries of the British V and W classes. They mount almost the same armament and have a speed of 35 knots. Most are fourfunnelled, and all are equipped with four-inch guns, 21-inch torpedo tubes and three-inch anti-aircraft guns. All-are to be renamed after towns beginning with the letter " C." A large flotilla of this class served in European waters from 1919 to 1924. They have a high standard of comfort aboard. The naval ratings lining the decks as they came in highly praised the American crews from whom they took over. The British crews proceeded to Canada aboard a liner which a German plane unsuccessfully attacked before its departure. The commander of one destroyer said the Americans were extraordinarily charming and handed oyer the ships in spick and span condition. " Our men quickly settled down to handling the vessels," he said. "The American skeleton crews which accompanied us on the trial runs wanted to go to England and nearly wept when we sailed." .- •.''

The British crews agreed that the vessels were better than British destroyers of the same age. The Atlantic was crossed in six days, and all had plenty of fuel left. Everyone paid a tribute to the ships' machinery and equipment, which require only, the slightest touching up for active service.