UNCLE SAM'S FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 9

UNCLE SAM'S FLEET.

MATRIMONIAL ENTENTE.

CUPID AT "WORK. FIFTY WEDDINGS PENDING. (By Cable. — Press Association. —Copyright.)' (Received 11 a.m.) .MELBOURNE, this day. It is reported that already two sailors from the visiting fleet have been married to Australian girls. A young officer is definitely known to have arranged an early wedding. One of the officers estimates that at least 50 weddings will be celebrated before the fleet leaves.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) A SAILOR'S SUICIDE. OMAHA MAN'S DEPRESSION. (Received 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, thi» day. A. L. Taiti, of the State of Michigan, U.S.A., a sailor from the Omaha, a unit of the American Fleet in these waters, committed suicide by cutting his throat. A Navy Board of Inquest, in bringing in a verdict of suicide, found that the man had been in. ill-health for some time and had lately become depressed.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) RIFLE SHOOTING MATCHES. AMERICAN SAILORS WIN. . (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. A shooting match 'between teams from the United States fleet, National Rifle Association, the citizen force's, and the Australian navy was won by the United States.—(A. and. N.Z... Cable.) HOSPITALITY IN AUSTRALIA. SOME ALLEGATIONS. SYDNEY, July 31, A story is said to have been published by tlie Associated Press of America to the effect that there have been many attacks on American sailors in Australia, and that an attempt had been made here to boycott.the fleet. Mr. J. N. McClinticlc, a member of Congress, who is accompanying the fleet, has sent a message to the President of the United States, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, saying that these statements were absolutely without foundation. As a result of special inquiries he had made be said lie had not heard, of a single occurrence to which the words "attack" or "boycott" could be applied. Mr. McClintick concluded: "Tlie whole of Australia has given us a most wonderfully sincere welcome." Admiral Coontz, in a statement at Melbourne, said he had heard nothing' of the fleet being boycotted. The men' .were being taken to the homes of the citizens and were having a first-class time. The Prime Minister. Sir. R. M. Bruce, expressed the regret of the Federal Government at the .misleading statements which were said to have been published in America. He said he had been in the two States and had seen for himself tlie warmtli of tho greeting Which had been extended everywhere- to tlie men of the fleet. As far as he know there had not been a single regrettable incident, Mr. M. Connors, the representative with tlie fleet of the Associated Press of America, denied that his dispatches bad been of an alarmist character. The references to a boycott related to tlie earlier threats of the extremists to boycott the fleet. He maintained that his messages regarding attacks on sailors were borne out by Sydney newspaper reports. Mr. Rothmftn. correspondent of the New York "Times."' said bis dispatches bad never mentioned anything in the nature of tlie complaints referred to. Admiral Robison. interviewed in Sydney, sa,id that, so far as he had gathered, bis men were very pleased with their reception. . He regarded the minor disturbances which had occurred as having been rare and negligible in degree.— (A. and N;Z.. Cable.) SEAPLANE ACCIDENT. THE MACHINE LOST. MELBOURNE, July*3l. A seaplane from the American warship Pennsylvania, in attempting to execute a loop to-day, dived from a height of 200 ft into the sea. Tlie machine sank, but the crew were rescued. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)