H.M.S. DAUNTLESS

Southland Times, Issue 19238, 8 May 1924, Page 6

H.M.S. DAUNTLESS

ROUTE MARCH ABANDONED. VISIT Tb INVERCARGILL.

It had been arranged that a contingent from the Dauntless totalling from between 250 to 300 men would take part in a march through Invercargill yesterday afternoon, but this had to be abandoned owing to the wet weather. About 100 men from the ship came up in the afternoon for the football at Rugby Park, and were welcomed at ths station by the Hibernian and Pipe Bands. ’ CIVIC LUNCHEON. A REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING. THE OBJECTS OF THIJTOUR. A civic luncheon was tendered to Captain C. W. Round-Turner and officers of the H.M.S. Dauntless in the- Grand Hotel yesterday, when a large gathering assembled to do honour to the representatives of His Majesty’s Navy. The Mayor, Mr A. Bain, presided and there were also present representatives of various local bodies, memh®ra of Parliament, and members of the Reception Committee. THE NAVY AND ARMY. At the conclusion of luncheon the Royal toast was honoured' and the Mayor proposed the toast of “The Navy and Army.” He said that before saying anything in regard to the toast, he wished to take the opportunity on behalf of the citizens of Invercargill, of extending a very hearty welcome to their guests. He was sure that everyone was pleased that they had visited Southland and bought even one unit of His Majesty’s fleet into harbour hero. No doubt they would have been pleased to have had more units of the fleet, but on this occasion they had been treated better than some other parts of the Dominion and the H.M.S. Dauntless was a very good sample of the light cruiser branch of the Navy. They all recognised out here that their very existence depended upon the British Navy. They also realised what great work the Navy had done in the, past and they also knew that, if called upon to do it again, the Navy would not fail them. He believed that, of all the forces, the Navy had the most unpleasant work to do in connection with the Great AV ar. The warships and the smaller naval vessels had to be out on the ocean at all times and in all weathers. He had been on board ship in the North Sea on a stormy night and knew what that meant. The ships of war had to cruise around all night in the darkness and it had been his experience, ' while in Aberdeen for some months, to see some of the smaller units of the fleet come into harbour knocked about, not by the Huns, but owing to a collision with one of their own boats. He had received tine little shock while there. It. was stated in the Press that there had been a battle in the North Sea ans that the British Navy had been wiped out. Although dismayed at first, the people quickly ■ recovered optimism, by the thought that it could not be possible. After his return to New Zealand some time later word was received that a big battle had taken place in the North Sea. The first information only contained the loss to the British fleet, but when a later message announced the losses sustained by the German fleet, it was just what ho had expected. In concluding his remarks, the Mayor expressed the hope that in continuing their tour, their guests would have a pleasant time. A tour such as that which they had undertaken, would be a great education, not so much to the senior officers, as to the younger officers of the service. It would give them a greater knowledge of the outposts of the Empire, which in itself was a most important thing.

Mr J. L. McG. Watson said that he deemed it a great privilege to have been afforded the opportunity of speaking in support of the toast. It had been his privilege some years ago to be connected with the Navy League in Invercargill and it was pleasing to have the assurance of Captain Round-Turner that the League had been of some assistance to the Na\y. He hoped, therefore, that the Invercargill branch of the League would be revived. He was pleased that the Navy had been placed first in order on the toast. They all loved th© Army, but the Navy was the first line of defence and without it they could not exist, especially in the colonies. He sometimes thought that if that great sailor Lord Nelson were to come to life to-day, he would see a great many changes, but he would also find that some things had not changed. He would still find himself first in the hearts of his countrymen and would still find that the same spirit existed in the Navy. The same famous signal that he floated at the masthead at Trafalgar, “England expects that every man this day will do his duty,” was still the motto of the Navy. They took their hats off to the Navy from the Admiral to the stoker. In referring to the Army, the speaker said that he thought that one and all would agree with him that the finest army the world had ever seen was comprised of the 150,000 contemptibles who had kept the Huns back. This country had sent 100,000 men to the war and 17,000 of these had not come back. They honoured these men and were proud of the British Army. Mr C. J. Brodrick, chairman of the Southland League, said that he esteemed it a great honour to supplement the remarks made in regard to the Navy and Army. He also desired, on behalf of the Southland League and the citizens, of Invercargill, to extend a cordial welcome to Captain Round-Turner and the officers and men of the H.M.S. Dauntless. All the time and thought he could give to the toast would not be sufficient for him to praise the Navy and Army as they deserved. One of the most inspiriting things at the outbreak of the war was the news flashed out that the Navy had set out from Spithead ready to do battle for the Empire. How they did their duty was now well known and he believed that the Navy’s blockade of Germany had been responsible for the internal revolution which had takdn place and which had led to Germany’s downfall. The Army also deserved all praise for the terrible hardships they endured in France. Southland alone lost 900 men in the war and he was pleased that the people of Southland were erecting a permanent monument to their memory. TO ESTABLISH UNITY. Captain Round-Turner, in replying on behalf of the Navy, said that he desired to say a few words of thanks for the very kind way in which they had been entertained at luncheon. He also desired to convey the very sincere regrets of Admiral Brand, commanding the light cruiser squadron, that he had not been able to pay a personal visit to Invercargill. Owing to the short time at his disposal that had not been possible. As Senior Captain of the Squadron, however, that had been his pleasant duty. He hoped that they would all feel with the Dauntless officers and men, that they had done all they could to make their visit both a happy and an instructive one. One of the moet important reasons for the world tour at present being undertaken by the light cruiser squadron was, stated Captain Round-Turner, to give them an opportunity of getting into closer touch with those who lived in far distant parte of the Empire. He hoped that they would be regarded as a representative body of Englishmen. It was their desire to learn .something of th® problems with which other parts of the Empire were faced and to let others know something of their own little worries. In this way it was hoped to bring about union, fellowship and friendship. (Applause). Another important object, of the tour to gain information in regard to the behaviour of the cruisers under different climatic weather and 1 whtoh they wet ntith ita their passage in parte of the weJ&L. In. required a great dted of expertoftoe to design a which would be under <3l climatic conditions. A farther object was to enable them to glfcaa. experience of the great trad® routes of the Enwii?%. It be their duty, in the event of another war, to guard those routes in eouiunoricn. wiih j

the dominion navies. They wanted firsthand information of how the dominions were situated in relation to other countries and how and from what quarter they were likely to be attacked. They were also gaining experience of harbours which ships could use in defending those routes. In concluding his remarks, Captain RoundTurner thanked them for the arrangements made for their entertainment and said that they would leave with a very high appreciation of this wonderful country and of the unbounded hospitality of its people. Captain N. McD. Weir, Staff-Officer?, replying on behalf of the Army, stated that the junior branch of the service had always and did look up to the Navy. Captain Weir also referred to the wonderful achievement of the Navy in keeping open the - lines of communication-for the land forces. Captain Myers, President of the Returned Soldiera’ Association, made appreciative reference to the achievements of the Navy at Gallipoli, at Zebrugge and in the protection of convoys. The gathering concluded with the National Anthem and “Auld Lang Syne.” THE BATTLE CRUISERS. LAST DAY IN WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association). s WELLINGTON, May 7. To-day many thousands took advantage of the last opportunity to visit the battle cruisers Jlood and Repulse, and at one time the waiting queue was nearly half a mile long. On the Hood hundreds of small parties were taken charge of by petty officers and seamen and personally conducted over the huge fighting vessel, and the various sections explained. On the Repulse it was men’s day, and 1000 invitations must have been issued, as the vessel was crowded. The men were allowed full opportunity to entertain their visitors and the quarter deck placed at the men’s disposal they - jazz band, which played all afternoon. For the children, various revolving wheels, swings, a switchback railway, and chutes were arranged, and to the little ones the warship resembled a floating palace of delight. To-night the Navy League held a ball, and a searchlight display was given.

The vessels with H.M.A.S. Adelaide leave at 8 a.m. to-day, and Vice-Admiral Field will arrange for the Squadron to give a searchlight display when off Cape Turnagain, which will be about 10 o'clock tomorrow night. The Squadron will be at Napier from 8 to 10 on Friday, but H.M.S. Repulse will be sent on to Gisborne, where she will remain from 8 a.m. till midnight on Friday.