THE FIRST GLIMPSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 8

THE FIRST GLIMPSE.

EVERY VANTAGE POINT CROWDED.

scene from point resolution;

GREAT INTEREST AWAKENED,

A calm harbour surface streaked with shadows from the heavy clouds overhead presented itself to the hundreds of people congregated on Point Resolution to view the arrival of the American Fleet. That the Point would be a popular vantage ground from which to see the unusual spectacle was evident even at ten o'clock in the morning, when people began to arrive with umbrellas, raincoats, and even thick travelling rugs, their luncheon baskets proving their intention to " make a day of it." Soon there was a long line , of motor cars parked along St. .Stephen's Avenue, while every few minutes motor buses arrived and disgorged fresh numbers. In a very short space there was only standing room on the railed-in spaces on the top of the Point, while the steps •were covered with the earlier arrivals, who were thus fortunate in securing seats. Field glasses, prismatic binoculars, op«ra glasses, and even long telescopes had been pressed into service in order to catch the first glimpse of the Fleet, determined not to be outdone, one man had armed himself with a 30-inch focal length telescope, which reminded one of the anti-aircraft guns seen during the war. However, everyone was perfectly happy and determined to enjoy themselves while waiting. The murmur of excited voices exchanging sallies, mingled with bursts of laughter and the shouts of boys made the park resemble (i show ground, and this effect was carried out by the display of flags and the many iniquitous small boys who had shinned up the trees to "get a good possy." Various small craft began to steam down the harbour, and shortly after 11 o'clock the ferry steamer Lake Takapuna passed with crowded decks. Away to the right, on the next point, a line of cars fully half a mile long could be seen against the sky-line, an indication that a large number of people were taking advantage of this position also. Through the glasses crowds could be distinguished in various vantage places along the north shore. " Where is the fleet, daddy? " inquired a babyish treble, the owner of which.,. though but a toddler, evidently was " well in the know," Papa's answer to this reasonable request was unfortunately lost amongst the general chatter. A* burst of sunshine was followed by the cry of " the aeroplanes," which had been spotted by keen eyes approaching in the sky over the north shore, having taken the short route from the Fleet over the point. On they came, growing steadily larger, until it was seen they were indeed the seaplanes from the Fleet flying in " V " formation, the first of the squadron to arrive. The stir amongst the people and the welcome waved from the Point was answered by answering waves from the aeroplanes, which circled over Auckland city before returning down the harbour at a" very low altitude, enabling their mother-ships to be distinguished as the U.S.B, California, Colorado, and Tennessee. Exactly an hour after the arrival of the aeroplanes sharp eyes caught sight of the tops of the towers of the leading ship over the top of the North Shore. This was the signal for which the people had been waiting. "The Fleet! The Fleet!" The cry was caught up and passed to those further back. "Where?" "Over the North Shore; look!" Sure enough, the fighting tops of the American battleships came into view in pairs, and moved slowing along the skyline, marking where the Fleet was moving slowly in towards the heads. The flagship of the fleet, the U.S.e. California, came slowly into view around the point, followed at even distances- by the West Virginia, Colorado, Maryland. Tennessee, New. Mexico, Idaho and Mississippi. At exactly one o'clock the flagship gave the Admiral's salute of 21 guns, the measured salute a token that the warships came in peace. The salute was answered by the harbour salute of seven guns, given from tho Bathed in warm sunshine, the battleships moved up the harbour with stately stride, even the warmth of the sunlight failing to lessen the cold grey outlines of the ships. The very embodiment of power, they came on in stately procession, the seaplanes rising from the water and circling and hovering above. As the ships drew nearer the men could be seen ";manning ship " in silent groups, and lining the rails of the quarter deck, facing outwards. Their white caps made long lines of white against the dark grey of the ships' upper works as they stood to attention in silent salute. The IG-inch of the warships were conspicuous in their white turrets, and one shivered to think of the destructive power that lay dormant in each floating fortress as the fleet filed slowly past the point. ' . . _' At 1.30 the last of the warships had passed the fort, and the flagship was nearly at her anchorage. A rush of people then took place for means of transport home, and the end of St. Stephen's Avenue soon resembled the entrance to a race ground. Cars were packed together into a traffic jam, and it was some time before the cars were able to move. On the way back to town streams of people descending from every vantage point added to the crush, eloquent testimony to the great interest taken in the visit of the fleet.