FROM THE EAST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 39, 26 November 1940, Page 8

FROM THE EAST

AMERICAN EVACUEES.

LINER ARRIVES AT AUCKLAND

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, November 25.

■’With atmospheric touches of the Far Fast,, the Matson liner Monterey presented an unusual spectacle , on arrival this morning with 794 passengers, the majority of whom are Americans being evacuated to the United States.

In throngs thickly lining the ship’s Tailings as the liner entered port on a ppjfect morning, were a large number of* happy children with a pronounced American accent. American business men from Shanghai, sad-eyed women who had deft husbands behind, also negroes "and peoples of various religious denominations. „

Leaving San Francisco on October 15,-the Monterey proceeded to Los Angeles,;.’Honolulu, Yokohama, Shanghai, and' Manila. A Torres Strait pilot was picked up at Thursday Island and the run down the Australian coast to Sydney was made inside the Great Barrier reejf. ’.The round trip was without incident, with calm weather throughout. ■ Passengers stated that the tension exicting between foreign nationals and Japanese was so serious that American business firms were evacuating all families of their employees before December 1. All berths on regular liners to America were booked months ahead.

Sightseeing in the city and suburbs this morning, and entertainment in the Town Hall in the afternoon thoroughly • delighted ’ the "Americans. A great majority of the visitors took advantage of this programme, although about 100 men and women were guests of “the Auckland Racing Club at the spring meeting at Ellerslie. The arrangements for the reception, and entertfiinment of the visitors were made by,,the,Mhyor (Sir Ernest Davis) with the co-operation of the Automobile Association, (Auckland). A fleet of buses and 75 private cars were assembled Before ./the Monterey sailed, the visitors fined her decks to listen to an entertainment given by the Papakura Cafijp Band and Maori poi dancers.