LORD JELLICOE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17586, 2 June 1919, Page 8

LORD JELLICOE

WELCOME AT PERTH

A LESSON OF vHE WAR

STRONG CkUISER FORCES NE-

CESSARY

PERTH, Mr.y 17

Lord and Lady Jellicoe, with the Admiral's stait and a number of officers and ratings of the warship New Zealand, arrived at Perth by special train from A bany at abcut noon yesterday, and received a most enthusiastic welcome.

The Premier and Mayor met the distinguished visitors at a decorated stand opposie the station, where there was a naval guard of honour. All traffic was blocked by a large, cheering crowd, and, after the formal welcome, Lord Jellicoe motored to Queen's Hall - here he received a civic welcome.

The Mayor, Alderman Lathlain, expressed the hearfelt gratitude of Australia J.O the British Navy for its protection during nearly live years' of war. He called for thre. cheers of welcome "for the greatest Admiral of the navy on his first landing under the Southern oross."

Cheers were given and Rule Britannia was sung by the audience.

The Premier-elect, Mr James Mitchell, extended a welcome to the visitors on behalf of the people of the State. He said the people were delighted that the greatest of Englanus great Admirals had come to Australia. He asked that some of the thousands of brave men who had fought with Lord Jellicoe in the North Sea, would come to Australia, where they were sure of a hearty welcome.

Lord Jellicoe, on rising to respond, was received with continuous cheering. He said it was difficult for him to express adequctely his appreciation of the welcome. Albany's heartiness could hardly be excelled. Lord Jollicoe went on to say that in 1914 there was the hunting down of lac German cruisers from China. It was as if looking for a needle in a haystack. The work of guarding the avenues of trade in all directions on the Inuian and China routes required the disposal of vessels everywhere. But the enthusiasm of the people and the volume o| their applause were indications that the Navy was popular and was honoured in Perth. This great welcome, however, was not so much personal, but to the representative of the Empire's navy, in which the Australian unit bore a most honourable part. The navy on tlie outbreak of war had a task of difficulty to meet in the Pacific. The number of vessels in that part of t 1 i world, though greater than that of the German forces, had very many interests to protect. Then there was the work of helping the gallant sister service which the navy was always proud to undertake in the Australian expedition to Papua, and the -Jew Zealanc one to Samoa, which necessitated the dispersal of forces for convoy. Later, the navy had the honour of escorting the Australian military contingents which had won imperishable laurels on the battlefields of Europe. The gallant Craddpck endeavoured to stop and damage the German Pacific Squadron raider in the action off the Chilian coast. The "esult of that fight against odds was that Admiral Yon Spec's squadron was delayed until Admiral Sturdee's fleet reached the Falkland Isles in tr :e to utterly obliterate the German squadron. The entry of Japan into the war did, to a certain extent, relieve the work, but even then it was not possible to stop these depredations of the raiders Wolf and See Adler. That was a lesson to the Dominions' forces. It was a lesson in that, although it was the duty of the main fleet in the main theatre of the war to crush the enemy's naval forces, it was also essential that we should have guarding our world-wide trade strong cruiser forces. Australia had realised that, and it was to be hoped that she and the other dominions would not only continue to realise it but would see that the strength of Britain's naval forces was kept up to such a mark of efficiency that in future there would be no doubt whatever about the protection of our world-wide trade.

In returning warmest thanks to Western Australia for its welcome, Lord Jellicoe alluded to the Cinderella of the States being turned into a princess by the wave of the magic wand of gold discoveries. The State had two great ports, Albany and Fremantle, which had both historic records in the war. Personally, he should ever prize the panoramic view of the transports with the first Australian coatingent at Albany. In connection with Fremantie, he would like to pay his tribute to the memory of the late Lord Forrest in recognition of the great works the deceased peer had accomplished for the State. He again thanked them on behalf of himself. Lady Jellicoe, and his officers for the wonderful reception wMch had been accoraed the'i.