“FRIEND OF 40 YEARS"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 25

“FRIEND OF 40 YEARS"

WHAT THE KING THOUGHT OF SIR DUDLEY DE CHAIR

Lips always moving in a smile, and round happy cheeks wrinkled with much enormous laughing, reveal that j Vice-Admiral Seizo Kobayashi, C. 8., C.V.0., commander of the two Japan- j ese training ships, the Idzumo and i Yakumo, which arrived at Sydney re- j cently, is a merry, companionable man. He always seems to be tasting an old joke, and everything has the flavour of delightful humour to him. He would like to be telling stories all the time. The first story he related to pressmen was about his Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Dudley de Chair. “I am glad to be in Sydney for many things,” he said slowly, for although he speaks English well, he picks out his words carefully, studiously, suggesting to his audience a man typing perfectly but anxiously with one finge^. “Yes, for many things 1 am pleased to have come, but most of all, perhaps, to see again your Governor of New South Wales, his Excellency Sir Dudley de Chair. He is an old shipmate of mine.” “A shipmate! What, in the Japanese—” “No, No. I was in the English Navy for a time. It was like this. In 1911 I went to England to learn the language and study naval affairs, and for part of the two years I spent there I served under Sir Dudley de Chair, Captain de Chair, on the warship Colossus. And I liked him very much. Then when I was in England in 1920-22, sitting on Nacdev, the Committee of Naval Allied Countries for the Disposal of Enemy Ships, I met Sir Dudley again, for he was president of the committee. “Shortly after that I met his Majesty the King. “ ‘You have been in England before?’ lie asked me. “ ‘Yes, your Majesty.’ “‘And you have served on a British man-o’-war ?’ “ ‘Yes, I have, your Majesty.’ “ ‘Who w'as your captain?’ “ ‘Captain de Chair, your Majesty.’ “ ‘Ah, Captain de Chair,’ said the King. ‘He is my friend of 40 years. He is a good, fine fellow, don’t you think?’ “I was pleased to be spoken to in these words by the King, especially when these words were of my great and admired friend, Sir Dudley de Chair, the present Governor of your State of New South Wales.” Admiral Kobayashi puffed at his cigar. “I could tell you many stories,” he said. “Yes?” said the pressmen, in a rising tone of expectancy. But he had commenced to talk seriously of airplanes *hnd war, and trade between Australia and Japan, and wool and wheat and friendship.