COMING OF THE FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1925, Page 5

COMING OF THE FLEET.

BOUND FOR NEW ZEALAND.

AMERICA'S GREAT FLEET.

THE AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS.

Now on its way across the Tasman Sea, the United States Fleet will steam Together for a certain distance and then deploy, the various detachments making for their various ports. Auckland will have the honour of receiving the most important part of the fleet—the great modern battleships, which are probably the mo?t formidable armada of their kind and number afloat to-day. There are eight battleships in all coming to Auckland, headed by the California, on which the Commander-in-chief of the battle fleet Hies his flag, Admiral Jtobison. Other ships are the West Virginia, the New Mexico, the Mississipi, the Idaho, the Colorado, the Maryland, and the Tennessee, all of which are over 32.000 tons, and average about 1200 men in a. crew. Other ships that will accompany this flotilla, will be the 10,000-ton repair ship Medusa, the oilTanker Kanawha. and the store-ship Arctic. Altogether there will be something like 12 000 men in Auckland. A message from the California was received this morning by the Town Clerk (Mr. J. S. Brigham \ . and no change has been made in the programme that was published yesterday in the "Star."" The fleet will arrive in the Itangitoto Channel sit half-past eleven a.m.. and by a quarter past twelve should be moored in .their appointed stations in the harbour. The California will not berth at the Prince's •wharf until a few days later. Wellington's guests will be the Seattle. •the flagship with Admiral Coontz, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, aboard, the battleships Pennsylvanai, Oklahoma, and Nevada, a cruiser division comprising vessels of 7500 tons, the hospital ship Relief, and other auxiliaries. The Seattle is an old vessel of 14,500 tons, the Pennsylvania is a ship of 31,400 tons, and the two other battleships are vessels of 27.500. . Lyttelton is to be visited by a cruiser and twelve destroyers, and Dunedin by the same number of destroyers and some auxiliary vessels. The collapse of a verandah in Melbourne and the number of tf?r.ths which resulted has evidently not been overlooked by the police in Auckland and the department has asked what steps can be take?} to prevent people from occupying verandahs during the Fleet procession in Auckland. The City Council last evening decided that the by-law prohibiting people fronT occupying verandahs will be rigorously enforced.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR WELCOME.

AUCKLAND'S EFFORTS APPRECIATED. Appreciation of the efforts being made in Auckland to welcome the Fleet next week was expressed by the American Consul (Mr. Walter F. BoYle) to-day. '"The feeling towards the Fleet's visit, as expressed by the action of many representative citizens," he said, "has given mc cause for pride, and proves to mc the cordial spirit behind the welcome here and the brightest anticipation with which the arrival of the Fleet is awaited. It seems to mc most spontaneous and enthusiastic." Continuing, Mr. Boyle said that, while in New Zealand, he would do all in his power to assist in this country being adequately noticed in America: and in ! showing appreciation of its integrity and business efficiency. It was particularly gratifying to him to witness the community spirit that inspired representative business organisations to show goodwill to their visitors. He referred to the action of the New Zealand Pepetual Forests. Ltd., in contributing ten thousand "Guides to Auckland," printed and illustrated ,in attractive form, which would be delivered to the Fleet as soon as it moored next Tuesday morning. "I heartily endorse that movement," he commented. The guides contained the latest information upon Auckland and its environments, with a specially prepared chart and numerical divisions, making it perfectly clear where to find the interesting features of Auckland and its suburbs. An improvised reading room and bureau that had been offered for the use of the members of the Fleet, known in sailors' language .as "Jackies," was also much appreciated by the Consul. This, lie said, would be situated in Lower Albert Street, and had been made available by New Zealand Perpetual Forests. Ltd.. and Smith, Wyllie, Ltd., in Smith's Buildings. It would be available for visitors from the country, as well as for members of the Fleet, and would thus give the Americans a better opportunity of meeting New Zealan'dcrs during the stay at Auckland. A telephone, writing facilities and newspapers would be placed at the disposal of the men.