DIOMEDE CALLED UPON

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 7

DIOMEDE CALLED UPON

TO LEAVE NEW ZEALAND

ADMIRALTY’S SUDDEN REQUEST.

HER DESTINATION NOT DEFINITE. QUICK AMENDMENT OF PLANS. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Consent to the detailing of H.M.S. Diomede for special service under the British Admiralty has been given by the New Zealand Government and the cruiser will leave the New Zealand station in a few days’ time. A reassurance that the step did not mean that the Dominion was likely, to be involved in war was given by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day. The. following statement was made by Mr. Forbes in the House of Representatives this afternoon:' “I wish to take this opportunity of advising the House and the country that at the request of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom H.M.S. Diomede is being detailed for special service under the British Admiralty. The cruiser left Wellington this morning for Auckland and will leave New Zealand waters in a few days’ time. “In these very difficult and trying times when the nations of the world are combined together as never before in an effort to end war and .to make effective the collective peace system based on the League of Nations, I am convinced members of all shades of opinion will endorse the action the Government has taken. “I sincerely trust, however, that the departure of the Diomede on a purely temporary measure will not give rise to mischievous rumours that the Dominion is likely to be involved in war. Nothing is farther from the case, and every effort of the British Government and of the New Zealand Government is directed towards avoiding and preventing war and towards carrying out the undertakings entered into under the Covenant of the League.” ' . The immediate destination of the Diomede, it is understood, is the Indian Ocean, but it is expected that her service will be extended later as far as Aden. The principal reason for the departure of the Diomede is to relieve a British cruiser in those waters. New Zealand’s action is regarded purely as a precautionary measure and as an indication of the country’s willingness to assist in patrolling trade routes in the East.

The Diomede arrived at Wellington only yesterday afternoon and was to have made a fairly , extended stay before going on Her spring cruise to various New Zealand ports. No announcement has been made about the possible duration of her absence from the New Zealand station.

Normally the cruiser would Have been withdrawn towards the end of the year for her annual refit and later would have left to return to England, as she is to be replaced next year by either the Leander or the Achilles. If the Diomede’s special service under the Admiralty is protracted it is possible that she will not return to New Zealand, but will go later to England. ■Rumours that members of the New Zealand division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve might be required for service through the departure of the Diomede were referred this evening to the Minister of Defence, the. Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The Minister said the rumours were entirely groundless and the statement made in the House' of Representatives by the Prime .Minister gave all the information that could be given at the moment.

The Minister was asked whether, he could name the Diomede’s destination and the date of her departure from Auckland, but he said those matters could not be discussed at present. He added that there was no need for anyone to take an alarmist view of the matter. A party of 22 New Zealand naval ratings from H.M.S. Dunedin are making a quick journey from Bluff to Auckland to join H.M.S. Diomede there, says a Christchurch message. The men are under special orders, which were, received by the Dunedin at Bluff at midnight yesterday. They travelled from Bluff to Dunedin in motor-buses to join the express to the north and passed through Christchurch this evening. The men are being rushed to Auckland to complete the complement of the Diomede, some of the crew of which are in Australia.