ANOTHER VICTORY SHIP

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5941, 10 May 1944, Page 3

ANOTHER VICTORY SHIP

LAUNCHED IN CALIFORNIA MRS WALTER NASH CHRISTENS THE VESSEL “ May New Zealand Victory and her splendid crew always have God’s blessing and protection ! ” With these words, Mrs Walter Nash, wife of New Zealand’s Minister to Washington, recently christened a newly-built 10,500-ton Victory ship in honour of New Zealand shortly before it slid down the ways of the California shipbuilding Corporation at Wilmington. The ship is the first American-built vessel to bear the name of New Zealand in this war. In a colourful launching ceremony witnessed by hundreds of shipyard workers and a small representative group of New Zealanders, Mrs Nash shattered a bottle of champagne against the ship’s bow and heard the voice of Mr Nash recorded prior to his departure last month for London bid New Zealand Victory “ good luck and fair weather ” as she took her place in a line of vessels whose traditions, he said, were “ among the most inspiring in the annals of the sea.”

“ This line of ships which bears the names of the United Nations will carry to fighting fronts throughout the world the men and equipment which in an ever-growing stream now pours out in every quarter of the globe. . . . New Zealand has always claimed to be among the front rank of the democracies in clinging fast to the principles of freedom and in introducing new steps toward a fuller life for her people,” Mr Nash said. “ These principles and these achievements will be symbolised whenever a Victory ship of the United Nations group sails into a foreign port.” In the ofijcial party, in addition to Mrs Nash, the sponsor, were Colonel and Mrs R. S. Halliwell, of San Francisco; Mr and Mrs S. B. Pilcher, also of San Francisco; Mr J. V. BloodSmyth, British Vice-Consul at San Pedro, California; and Mr A. J. BarrBrown, of Wellington. Mrs Pilcher, wife of New Zealand’s representative for Western America, and Mrs Halliwell, wife of the Dominion’s liaison officer in charge of shipping on the West Coast, were matrons of honour, and, like the sponsor, received colourful corsages and huge bouquets of American Beauty roses from Mrs Dorothy McNary, the launching hostess. Mrs Beauchamp, a New Zealander, was accompanied by her American husband, who, as an employee of the shipyard, had worked on New Zealand Victory.

Speaking on behalf of Mr John A. McCone, president of the California Shipbuilding Corporation, Mr Hugh MacDonald, of the Calship yard staff, termed the newly-completed ship a symbol of team-work. “ This is not just an ordinary ship,” Mr MacDonald said. “It is a ship which symbolises the team-work that exists in the great British Commonwealth of Nations and which is becoming more evident between the individual members of the United Nations.”

Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd, long-time friend of New Zealand and now on active duty in the United States Navy, and Rear-Admiral E. S. Ltnd, war shipping administrator, both sent messages which were read over the yard’s public address system. Said the latter: “ Best wishes for a successful launching of New Zealand Victory, another of the great fleet which is helping to carry into every theatre of war what it takes for a united victory.” To this added Admiral Byrd, explorer and conqueror of both poles: “ As one American among many who have come to know and Jove New Zealand as a great country inhabited by a great people, may I wish this ship God-speed ? New Zealanders have proved the gallantest of allies on the desert, in the air, and now in Italy, and beside our own forces in the South Pacific. May S.S. New Zealand Victory exemplify the magnificent fighting spirit that we have come to associate with the name of our ally ‘ down under.’ ”

The launching ceremony was brief. Mr MacDonald, serving as master of ceremonies, spoke for a few moments and then introduced Mr Nash’s recorded address. He next brought Mrs Nash to the microphone. She was wearing a blue suit, grey fur coat, and blue felt hat trimmed with a small black veil. She spoke to the group as follows: “ It is indeed a very great honour for me to launch this beautiful ship—an honour I only wish I could share with all the women of New Zealand. And I know that if my husband were not required to be in London to-night he would be here with me to thank, in person, those who have named this wonderful vessel in honour of. New Zealand. May New Zealand Victory and her splendid crew always have God’s blessing and protection.” Mrs Nash paused, then turned to Mr MacDonald and presented him with a New Zealand Ensign to be hung in the after cabin of the ship “as a token of the.friendship which so happily exists between your own people and mine.” The audience applauded. Mr MacDonald then introduced the matrons of honour and other members of the New Zealand party. By this time the ship was poised to go, and Mrs Nash received final instructions from her aide, Mr Luke Corzine. The vessel was held back only by two steel “ burn off ” plates, one on' each side of the ship about 30 or 40 feet from the sponsor’s platform. Each of the plates contained six numbered holes, and on a signal workmen with acetylene torches burned through the S-inch steel to each hole in succession. Some time between “five ” and “ six ” Mrs Nash received her signal, and, swinging the bottle in a short arc, struck it against the steel. It broke at the first blow, and as the champagne spurted across its bow the towering grey shape wrested itself from the restraining plates and started down the ways, sliding smoothly back and down into the darkness that shrouded the channel beyond. One girl standing nearby pushed through the crowd to Mrs Nash, “ I am from Australia,” she breathed, wiping one hand across a tear-stained

cheek. “ I have worked so hard on that ship, and was so glad when they named it for New Zealand. Oh, Mrs Nash, part of my heart went down the ways with that ship ! ” There is little time for sentiment in a war-time shipyard, however, and even as company towboats nudged New Zealand Victory toward her outfitting dock spidery cranes lowered a keel into position for the next ship on Cal ship’s schedule. Five hours later another ship was under construction. New Zealand Victory, which will be ready for sea in less than a month, was built in 55 days, her keel having been laid on 25th January. She is the sixth of 84 Victory type vessels for which the Calship yards hold contracts and the 3401J1 ship launched from the yards during the present war. It has not yet been disclosed whether she will make her maiden run to the South Pacific and New Zealand, but yard officials indicated that that was possible. The extent and direction of the first passage will depend uponj the shipping firm to which she is allocated. At that time, too, her captain and crew will be chosen.