No Civic Reception For French Cruiser

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 13

No Civic Reception For French Cruiser

TOURVILLE’S visit FLEET, modern warship No eivic reception or “At Home” will be given by the Auckland City Council on the occasion of the viilt of the French cruiser Tourviile, scheduled to reach Auckland on Tuesday morning. This was decided last Thursday evening at the conclusion of the special meeting held to discuss unemployment, according to an official statement made this mornL to THE SUN. There is, however, a complete end attractive programme arranged for the entertainment of both officers and men. CPEED and trim efficiency is ex--15 "pressed in every line of this crack -{hung ship of the French navy, the vessel of her type afloat, and me of the most modern. Captain J. M. C. Abrial is in coined and under him are 31 officers, t petty officers, 81 mates, and 665 litings- This generous complement nans a ship of 10,000 tons, with eight Slnch guns and powerful minor innament; also two naval seaplanes. treaty cruiser The Tourville is a 1925 addition to jSa Frency navy under the terms of •j, e Washington Treaty and is noted officially as the fastest treaty cruiser m the world. Built right up to the last ton of the limited weight, the ship embraces every modern naval development in engine room and gunturrets, control and cruising capacity. In length the Tourville is approximately the same as the old H.M.S. New Zealand, while the extra height of her build creates an illusion of similarity in else. However, she is practically half the weight of the Dominion’s warrior of Jutland, being much slimmer, of shallower draught, and considerably lighter in armament. Of a type unknown 15 years ago, the Tourville’s class was evolved as a compromise between warships of the S»v Zealand’s class and light cruisers of the weight and specifications of H.M.S. Dunedin, of the New Zealand Division. Leaving Brest at the beginning of April, the Tourville visited Martinique, Colon, Panama, Callao and Valparaiso, and Is now at the New Hebrides. After a week in Auckland she will visit Wellington, thence to Australian ports. OFFICIAL CALLS When France’s naval representative appears at the entrance to the Waitemata, the cutsomary salutes will be exchanged and, after pratique is granted, Captain Abrial will call on the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, who will welcome him on behalf of the Government. Calls will also be made on the senior naval and military officers, and on the Mayor ant the chairman of the Harbour Board. The calls will then be returned in the order in which they are made. On Tuesday evening Captain Abrial and his senior officers will be the guests of Mr. de la Perrelle at an Informal dinner at the Grand Hotel, at which the Consul for France, M. Paul Serre, and the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, will also be present. Dinners will also be giver for Captain Abrial by M. Serre. and the Consul for Belgium, Mr. A M. Ferguson. The French Club is giving a ball for the officers on Monday, August 5. Two excursions have been arranged by the Government. Next Friday a party of officers and ratings will leave (or Rotorua and will return on Sunday evening. The next day another party will rl3it the Waltomo Caves. The men are to be extended the freedom of the trams, the zoo and the swimming baths, and a shed on the wharf adjacent to the ship's berth Is to be fitted as a dancing and refreshment hall.