Amiral Charner

Now Stationed at Tahiti

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, April 16.

THE French war vessel, Amiral Charner, a light scout cruiser of 2,800 tons, ar rived in Tahiti recently to take the place of the Bellatrix, which returned to France last year to be scrapped. This new vessel —one of the latest additions to the French navy—is an oil burner, developing a speed of 18 knots, and, like her sister ship the Rigaud de Genouilly, which visited Papeete last year, is a gracefully built craft.

She was built at Bordeaux, and launched in August 1933. On her maiden voyage, the Amiral Charner left Toulon in April last year for the South Seas.

After proceeding through Suez Canal and calling at many French ports en route, the vessel reached New Caledonia at the end of 1934. At Noumea orders were re ceived to proceed direct to Tahiti and thus it was not possible to visit New Zealand as was originally intended.

The arrival of the Amiral Charner on March 31 was announced by the unac customed humming of a ’plane, which aroused the worthy citizens of Papeete from their usual Sabbath siesta, and sent them hurrying to the waterfront to be present at the reception. Since then the town has been more or less en fete and

the 122 officers and men have been well entertained in characteristic Tahitian style. His Excellency Governor Montagne gave a ball at Government House on Saturday, April 6, and a similar function was given by the Mayor of Papeete (Mr.

George Bambridge) on the 13th, which wound up the festivities for the time be ing.

The Amiral Charner is commanded by Capitaine de Fregate Monsieur Adelus, who was a distinguished aviator during the great war, and who holds the Legion d’Honneur and many other decorations.

The sea ’plane carried by this vessel is a scouting ’plane capable of carrying two men and remaining in the air for over three hours.