INTERESTING VISITOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 4 February 1926, Page 11

INTERESTING VISITOR

FRENCH SLOOP CASSIOPEE. FIGHTING RECORDS OF OFFICERS An interesting arrival at Dunedin on Sunday morning was the French sloop Cassiopee, which entered port at 6 a.m., and steamed to a berth at the Rattray Street wharf shortly after 8 la.m. In spite of the early hour a large crowd was present, and the activities of the French sailors about the decks held the attention of the spectators for'several hours. The Cassiopee’s visit is for the purpose of representing the French Government at the Ezhibition. The Cassiopee is a compact little vessel of 700 tons gross register, with two funnels. She is stationed in the Pacific to guard French interests. She began the present cruise at Noumea, and spent five days at Brisbane before going to Sydney. The sloop left Sydney on Monday, January 18, and met with fine weather until Thursday evening, when she ran into a terrific north-east gale, with high seas. The barometer rose and fell rapidly, which warned the office’s that a cyclonic storm was approaching. Heavy seas broke on board, and a portion of the wireless aerials was blown down, while some of the cabins on the lower deck were flooded. The gale raged with unabated fury throughout Thursday night and on Friday, and all on board had a very unpleasant time. When the sloop berthed she certainly bore traces of a recent rough handling, as coal dust was lying in places where it would not be under normal conditions, and the brass work of gun mountings and deck fittings lacked that brilliancy expected on any man-o -war. “You must excuse our dirty appearance,” said a jovial officer in broken English, when a “Daily Times” reporter boarded the ship. “We have had a most terrible time in one big gale, and you must excuse coal dust, will you not!” he asked. The officer was Lieut. Andre Lcmonnier, and he chatted on various subjects as he led the way below to the officers’ wardroom and extended a Frenchman s hospitality. Unit of “Star” Class. The Cassiopee belongs to the “Star” class which corresponds to the “Flower” class of the British navy. The sloop is a sister ship to H.M.S. Laburnum ,H.M.S. Veronica ami others. These ships of the “Star” and “Flower” class were built in pairs m British shipyards, under the 1916 war programme. The was launched at Glasgow in 1917. She is is also a sister ship to the Australian survey ship Geranium and the Aldebaran, which vessel she has replaced in the Pacific. Most of these small sloops, built under the early war programme, were attached to units of the British Navy, and others were handed over t) the French. Each of the boats handed over was named after a star, vhilc all the sloops in the British Navy were named after* flowers. The Oassiopee was used mainly as a patrol ship during the war in the Gulf of Biscay. She js armed with two five-inch and two millemeters guns. She has a powerful wireless installation, and news from Prance is received at certain hours each day and eagerly read by all on board. The sloop is a coal burner, and has a sca-going speed of 17 knots. After the war the Cassiopee was stationed >at Newfoundland, then Iceland, and subsequently at Marvin o, and West Africa. The officers’ wardroom bears testimony of the ship’s visits to other far-off countries in a manner seldom seen on board ship. On the four walls of the wardroom are shown draw ings iu colour of polar bears, penguins, elephants, camels, and many other birds and animals, and figures as represent* tivc of each foreign eouu/try visited. The officers are very proud of a collection of beautiful decorations which also adorn the walls. They are executed in gold and black and many other colours on some expensive material from a foreign land. They are the work of the famous French decorator. Poiret, who presented them to thu ship. Departure From France The Cassiopee left France on March 1, 1925, and arrived at Noumea (Caledonia) in July. She is the only French naval representative in the Pacific. The sloop spends about six months of the year in Caledonian waters, and most of the other French possessions in the Pacific. She returned to Noumea in November last from a cruise to Tahiti, Samoa, and Fiji. The Cassiopee carries nine officers and a crew of 100 sailors. She is under the command of Captain J. Dccoux, who saw considerable service with the French navy during the war. He was first in command of a submarine 'and later of patrol ships. Officers’ War Service Most of the officers served heir country during the war. Lieut. Andre Lemonnier was in command of ti French I naval battery at Gallipoli and was then i attached to’ the Anzacs for seven months. He subsequently served on a submarine and had some exciting experiences. Lieut. Kilian served with the French Army when war broke out. He was badly wounded at th<» first battle of the Somme. When he recovered from his wounds he was drafted to patrol ships, and subsequently to the French Flying Corps. Most of the older petty officers and quartermasters on the Cassiopee served ia French naval ships throughout the war. Dr. Chevalier served with the French Army on the Western front. He was wounded tat Champagne. Chief-engineer Jezequel also served with the French Army on the Western front. A number of the present crow of the Cassiopee are very young, but every man on board looks healthy, strong and happy. Th*- sailors include 15 darkskinned natives from the Loyalty Islands, a French possession. They were recruited two months ago. The officers speak very highly of these men. “They are very good sailors.” said Lieut. Lrmonni-r. “They are useful in everything aboard the ship. They are real good-natured fellows, and arc wonderful swimmers.”