America's Great Armada Visits the Southern Cross

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 7

America's Great Armada Visits the Southern Cross

|j9S|l IGHT grey leviathans swept round the North Head, forged their way majestically up i|rji|j|j harbour to their appointed stations, dropped "■* their mooring anchors, and came to rest with machine-like precision. It was an unforgettable sight ! Over a quarter of a million tons of fighting power, the mightiest fleet that has ever anchored in the Waitemata! We have been singularly fortunate, although we are at the other end of the political focus of the world, in having had ocular demonstration of the amazing strides that have marked the wonderful race for armaments among the nations. Whether that feverish struggle be a good thing for the world is a moot point, but it is a phase of civilisation, and it seems strange that we in far away New Zealand should be au fait with all the most famous ships of the moment.

less in accord with all our accepted ideas of sailor-like congruity? And yet, even this radical departure from tradition and familiar forms is not unbeautiful. On the contrary, it seems to put the finishing touch on what is really a huge floating fort rather than a ship. Salt water seems to be their element more as a matter of accident than design; and yet they seem eminently at home. Bright sunshine, with a tang of winter still in the air, the waters of harbour and gulf just wimpled by a light south-west wind. It was a day of exhilaration that seemed in fitting accord with the wonderful visitation that swept into the Waitemata, and dropped anchor at the very top of high water. Those of us who remember that astonishing sight of seventeen years ago when Admiral Sperry's sixteen white; ships came steaming in and stretched themselves out

When H.M.s. New Zealand came round the world on a complimentary visit to the Dominion that presented her to the Motherland, we all felt mighty proud at being connected with such a stupendous fighting machine. Then even that monster was dwarfed by the mightier Hood and the ponderous Repulse. Could anything go further ? Surely, we thought, this must be the last word. But no, things move rapidly when the naval architects really set themselves out to go one better, and to-day we have this astonishing armada of eight floating forts bristling with sixteen inch and fourteen inch guns—calibres that a few years ago would have been deemed impossible on the high seas. There is no doubt that the " clipper " is the ideal bow. One missed it in the grim, straight-stemmed warships of ten years ago. And the great curved prow of the modern ship, sinister though it be, is something of a return to the nautical line beauty. No one could say that those eight 32,000-tonners this morning were not majestically grand in their lines. From the wave-scorning bow, along the noble sheer, to the businesslike stern, bereft of all extraneous lines and hamper, they were- indescribably satisfying to the eye. But the old-fashioned taper masts soaring aloft have gone for ever. The tripod masts were sufficient of a breakaway to strike the eye as something most bizarre afloat, but what can we say of this latest development, the lattice mast? Could anything be

Auckland Cordially Welcomes the United States' Fleet.

in a double line from Chelsea to the North Head, recall the great sensation' they caused. It was the first time we had seen such a flotilla. Some of the scribes waxed more than eloquent over the spectacle, and one of them in his enthusiasm swore before Allah that it was glorious. And another slab of eulogy had the honour of figuring in " Punch," it was so ecstatic. Since those unforgettable days of 1908 Auckland has become somewhat critical in the matter of armadas, but to-day's spectacle would have enthused the most blase. It thrilled the thousands who flocked to the waterfront, and no matter what flag had been floating from the stern of those monsters it would have caused a gasp of admiration. As one of the Admirals said over in Sydney, blood is thicker than water, and one cannot help disguising the

fact that the knowledge that the flag was " Old Glory," the beautiful standard of a great branch of the Englishspeaking race, did not lessen one's sense of aesthetic satisfaction. Watchers on Tiri Tiri eagerly scanned the horizon this morning with their glasses, but it was not until 8.50 a.m. that the tell-tale trails of smoke betrayed the approach of the great Fleet. Under easy steam the ships came on, and watchers with glasses from high points ashore witnessed a fine sight as they converged upon the entrance to the harbour. Shortly after noon the Fleet was off Rangitoto Beacon, where the pilots went aboard, and then began the stately procession up the Channel and into the Harbour. People crowded every headland, and the waterfront in the city area was black with people.

Seldom has the harbour been so empty of mercantile shipping, and as we are still partially in winter there was missing that characteristic sight of Auckland in the summer—the mosquito fleet, with the white sails of yachts and the sputter of many launches. But in spite of this it was surprising where all" the boats came from. Launches mustered in strong array, while , the excursion steamers and the ferries helped to give expression to Auckland's welcome. Everything afloat showed more or less bunting, so the scene did not lack colour. Probably the most picturesque incident connected with the arrival was the flight of seaplanes. An hour before there was any sign of the ships, watchers ashore saw three specks appear in the clouds from seaward, and these gradually resolved themselves into powerful seaplanes. Later they were joined by a fourth plane, and while the stately ships were steaming in the planes hovered round and scouted up and down the harbour. To think that these strange "birds" had taken flight from the decks of the incoming warships while they were still miles from port was most impressive. It was intensely dramatic, and impressed the people-crowded waterfront more than any incident that has ever happened on the waters of the Waitemata. ( It was surely the last word in the great game of war. And oddly enough, this most modern of all armaments used one of the very oldest of war machines the ballista, or catapult, which was the piece de resistance of the Romans and those other grand old fighting races. It was the most picturesque incident in a memorable scene.