CRUISERS AT AUCKLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1933, Page 7

CRUISERS AT AUCKLAND

COMBINED SQUADRONS DUE DOMINIONS’ SHIPS FROM RUSSELL. FLYING-BOATS TO BE ESCORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Greater naval strength than Auckland has seen for some time will enter Waitemata Harbour at seven o’clock to-mor-row morning when the combined Australian and New Zealand squadrons will arrive from Russell. Four cruisers will enter the harbour led by H.M.A.S. Canberra.

A Fairey lII.F. seaplane accompanied by two flying-boats from the Australian cruisers arrived at Hobsonville this afternoon. All three machines will take the air early in the morning and provide an aerial escort for the cruisers when they enter port. CRUISERS NOT OUT OF DATE "LITTLE USE FOR DEFENCE.” Rec. 9.20 p.m. London, Aug. 30. Replying to criticism of the Australian Navy by a senior officer at Sydney, the Morning Post’s naval expert says: "The cruisers Canberra and Australia cannot be described as either out of date or miserable, but there is no blinking the fact that the present Australian Navy is little use for defence of the vast continent. The only effective defence would be mine-fields and ocean-going submarines enabling a strong distant patrol to be maintained. Both arms would require the support of surface ships.”