H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 28

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

ADMIRAL JELLICOE'S TRIBUTE

(From Oup. Own Correspondent.) . LONDON, February 21. Lord Jellicoe hoisted his flag in the New Zealand yesterday, February 20, and war, to have sailed then, but is duo to leave Portsmouth to-day. The Mayor of Portsmouth wont on board yesterday, and, on behalf of the inhabitants, wished Lord Jellicoe a successful voyage. Replying to the toast of his health at tho High Commissioner's dinner, Lord Jellicoe is reported to have said:—"The name ot the ship brings, close associations with Mow Zealand One cannot but realise the great deeds of New Zealanders and the gallant assistance rendered by the dominion during tho war; and the whole world knows, and will never forget, the magnificent work that was done on Gallipoli. It has only been my lot to see a little of their work m France. I shall never forgot going over the battlefield where the Fourth Army had fought. 1 was filled with amazement at the magnificent work done by the New Zealand Contingent. I have seen the work on tho New Zealand. No ship in the British navy has added, more lustre to the splendid Roll ot Honour of New Zealand's sons. She was only once hit throughout the war, and I attribute this to her extraordinarily good shooting. She hit tho other fellow so. hard that he could not hit her. The mission J am about to start upon is not an easy one. I havo no misconception of the task before me, but I know I shall be helped by the people of the dominion. I am going in a ship that helped to make a good- cause successful. I am informed that Admiral Halsey, on hw visit to New Zealand, made 164- speeches and attended 74 banquets. I hope I shall not be called upon to do that, but if I am I shall do my best. I have not visited Australia or New Zealand previously, but we have taken an enormous amount of literature on board:, and Cbrhmodoro Dreyer has. in fact, taken so much that we have had to leave behind a portion of the ammunition. I have a feeling that my difficulties are not diminished by not knowing what kind of. a world we are going to have in three or four months' time. Onoe more I thank you all."