VISITORS FROM CHILE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 10

VISITORS FROM CHILE

TRAINING SHIP’S CRUISE WORK PUT BEFORE PLEASURE. ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME. AUCKLAND, Aug. 12. Work before pleasure is a precept ap patently practised in the Chilean Navy. In any case, none of the men on the training shop General Baquedano, which arrived at Auckland on Monday, has yet been granted shore leave; instead, they were engaged yesterday in cleaning ship and all day the vessel was the scene of quiet activity as men swabbed the decks, scrubbed hammocks and went about the numerous other tasks incidental to life in any navy. Accordingly, no visitors were allowed on board the corvette yesterday.

An opportunity to inspect the ship will be given the public this afternoon. The trainees will als be granted shore leave to-day and plans are being made to enable all the visitors to see as much of Auckland as possible during their week’s stay. Motor drives for the officers have been arranged for the next three afternoons, several dinner and dance parties arc on the programme, while the Navy League is interesting itself particularly in the entertainment of the men. Official Calls Returned. Calls paid on the day of arrival by the commander, Captain Luis Alvarez, were returned yesterday morning by the Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison, the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr G. R. Hutchinson, and Colonel J. E. Duigan, of the Northern Military Command. Members of the consular corps were also received. Captain Alvarez was the guest of Commander E. L. Berthon, of the Devonport naval base, at luncheon. Several officers were entertained at dinner by Mr E. A. Craig, Consul, for Chile, and by Mr O. J. Thedens. The latter also took a party of visitors to the Reform Club ball at the Peter Pan Cabaret last ■ evening. Four officers, accompanied by Mr Craig, will be the guests of the Northern Club at luncheon to-day, while Mr Thedens will be host at another luncheon for officers, in the evening Mr Craig will entertain another party : of officers at dinner, while others will j be the guests of IDr. E. Vivian. ■ An interesting engagement this after--1 noon will be an. Association football match between teams representing the

General Baquedano and H.M.S. Philomel The match will be played at the Devonport naval base. The Chileans are said to be skilful players, as {Soccer enjoys a considerable vogue .in their country. Meaning of the Flag, As an extensive voyage on the corvette is an integral part of the training for the Chilean Navy the traineees go about their work ou shipboard as as- ; sidously when in port as when at sea. 'lhus the usual classes of instruction will be held each morning -while the vessel is at ,A.uckland. Each evening at sunset the national flag, flying at the stern, is saluted as it is hauled down; it is re hoisted each morning at eight ’ o ’clock. Incidentally, the visitors take considerable pride in explaining the meaning ’ their flag, which comprises a lower horizontal stripe of red and an upper 1 stripe, partly blue and partly white. The blue, section, which is smaller and ■ nearer the pole than the white, also bears a white star. “The blue represents the skies of Chile—always blue,’’ explained a midshipman, smiling as ne • gazed at Auckland’s drab sky. “The white represents our mountains crowned ’ with snow. We have in Chile, Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in all 1 America, north or south. The red represents the blood shed for freedom. The star represents the unity of Chile’ it is one State." ; Fowls caged on the deck of the corj vette are not mascots or lighting cocks, as might be supposed. They are kept for the practical purposes of featuring later on the menu card. Oxen and sheep are also carried on occasions to ensure an adequate supply of fresh meat. As the voyage from New Zea- . land to Valparaiso, for instance, is es- . timated to occupy 60 days, and no calls will be made en route, the importance t of safeguarding the larder supplies is > evident. As mascot the ship carries a J dog. It had a companion earlier on the k voyage, but that animal, much to the , regret of the ship’s company, was . washed overboard during the passage . from Tahiti to Samoa.