SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144145, 15 July 1913, Page 5

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

AUSTRALIA AXD THE EMPIRE. DAY ON, THE FLAGSHIP. LONDON, July 1. To-day H.M.A.S. Australia was.open to inspection by Australians in England and others, and brilliant weather favoured tho event. Two special trains convoyed to Portsmouth the crowd who wanted to see tho Commonwealth’s newest and biggest warship, and there wore present representatives from every Suite and from New Zealand. Lord Emmott, Under-Scrrctnry of State for the Colonics, the Chief Justice, Sir Samuel (Jriilith, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Agent-General for X ew Zealand, and the Ageiits-Ocncrul for New South Wales, Victoria, West Australia, and Queensland wore among tho sightseers. Coloucls Dean and Semens, of the Australian rifle team at Bislcy, travelled down as well, and Lady and Miss Reid, Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, Mr. A. 11. Russell, of Sydney, Mr, Dugald Thompson, Colonel Wallace, Captain K. Muirhcad Collins, and Captain Booth wore other notable visitors. When the trains arrived at the naval port the largo party was quickly conveyed on board the .battleship, which was living the White Ensign at the peak and tlio Federal Flag at the fore. The crew “dressed ship ’ to receive the guests, and tho other warships lying around also carried their bunting, THREE TONS OF MISSILES. The great vessel looked a splendid product of the shipbuilder’s skill, floating grey and formidable or. the still water, with her long, massive guns showing, guns that in one sweeping broadside will hurl three tons of metal at an enemy. The old Victory, Nelson’s woodenwalled ship, lay in the background, and was a startling contrast to tho modern machine of death and destruction. The Australia was rather high in tho water, as there were still 5000 tons of stores and fittings to go in her. She is to be commissioned on Thursday. Tho decks and brasswork, which a day or two ago were filthy, were spotless aVa new pin to-day. Tho officers conducted littlp parties of the guests to the topmost turrets and the lowest levels of the engine-rooms. That shb is a magnificent ship was tho general opinion, and a. glow of prido coursed through the Australians present at the possession of such a fine craft. While tho inspection was on a naval hydroplane soared overhead and swept alongside in tho sea. and after the visitors had seen all that there was to he seen afternoon tea was provided on the quarter-deck, tho ship’s baud playing a programme of music. AN AMUSING INCIDENT.

The speeches were heartfelt and eloquent, and before they started there was an amusing incident. Tho ship’s complement were grouped on the decks and clustered in the rigging, and as Sir George Reid walked up on tho quarter-deck, cn6 of the ■sailors, ah Australian, shouted out, “Where’s your dbg, 'George?” A-gen-eral laugh followed from all' the Australians on board. ’ Tho High Commissioner said; “The phrase, ‘Australian fleet,’ sounds strange, but it is pleasant to the ears of all-of us, for it represents the Commonwealth’s intention to' share in the responsibility of maintaining the peace of tho world and tho solidarity of tho Empire. (Cheers.) “To Australia belongs tho credit of being the first of the oversea dominions to become pioneer of the path with a navy that is a local navy, and lat tho same time a unit of the Imperial Navy.” Proceeding, tho speaker said that 47per cent, of the ship’s personnel wore Australians and 53 per cent. English; bnt ho thought they were an Englishlo'oking lot generally, and ho could not see any difference. (Cheers.) “And,” went on Sir George, “they all belong to tho same great nation; they were all bred from the same great stock. (Cheers.) The nation is a fixture, hut it is a movable fixture. (Laughter.) It is distributed in all the corners of the world. - SPIRIT OF IMPERIALISM. “The spirit of Imperialism impels us to stand shojjlder to shoulder with our brother Britishers in the other corners.” Sir George next thanked the Admiralty for .appointing Rear-Admiral Sir George Patey to the command of the Australian Navy. He was, he said, a man with the highest credentials, whose worth had been recognised more and more as the years passed. ' He (Sir George Reid) also wished to thank Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson and Captain Booth, who first translated Australia’s naval aspirations into a magnificent practical scheme. (Cheers.) Admiral Patey,- in a halting but manly and modest speech, said that he was confident that a fleet manned by Australians would attain a splendid morale, and the discipline that distinguished tho British Navy.- ■ (Cheers.) The battleship. Commonwealth, which was lying at Spithead, sent, a wireless message during tho afternoon, saying: “Good wishes to the great Commonwealth of Australia.”