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[page 46]
89
(8).
larger craft. Its their swift movements that appeal to one.
Several new vessels of different classes were a little apart from the fleet doing evolutions and thoroughly proving themselves before joining up with the units to which they were intended. That long ship of a thing xxxx tearing through the water over there is the "Naughty" the latest thing in destroyers, steaming - knots, and that dense cloud of smoke further to the right is from the "Awful" one of the "Push" ships which is one day going to prove a surprise to Germany. And so one could go on, always something new; the Navy must be kept absolutely up to date.
I had received an invitation to lunch with Admiral Sturdee on his flagship and a very genial man I found him. He had been in Australia as Captain of one of the small vessels of the old Navy and had received a blue ticket to Lord Beauchamps famous party and admitted to turning his searchlights on to the couples at Lady Macquaries chair. Like most officers of the Navy whocame out in those days he had the time of his life in Australia. Melbourne always needed defending about the first Tuesday in November. Hobart at Christmas time, Sydney at Easter and Spring Meeting time and so on. He pointed out of the port hole to a vessel a couple of miles away which he said I ought to know. She was our old friend the "Royal Arthur" now a sort of mother ship for some of the small craft. The Admiral reminded me of the part she played in the inauguration of the Commonwealth when as Flagship on the Australian station she made a triumphant entry into Sydney Harbour bearing our first Govenor General who on landing midst much pomp and ceremony proceeded to Centennial Park where the swearing in and inauguration of the Commonwealth took place. Altogether I spent a very pleasant couple of hours with the Admiral, the man whose photos