AMERICANS IN WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 189, 12 August 1925, Page 9

AMERICANS IN WELLINGTON.

AEROPLANE SQUADRON. ITTEKVIEW WITH ADMIBAD COONTZ. " NOT A PLEASURE CRUISE. , * \ <By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") f WELLINGTON, Tuesday. With one of its winter quick change!,Wellington, which was dismal on Mon* day, provided a perfect day for thq arrival of the American Fleet to-day. The vessels had come straight across from Melbourne, leaving the South Island squadrons' to make their way around the south of the South Island. They were in Cook Strait in the early morning, and when outside Wellington heads 30 miles from the city, the cruisers put up their seaplanes, seven coming over the harbour an hour ahead of the ships. They gave New Zealanders a significant glimpse of what this new fighting arm may mean to a fleet. One pilot, though carrying an observer and handling a heavy seaplane, looped the loop thrice in succession, climbed, high and performed a vividly interest* ing stunt known as the "falling leaf." Just after one o'clock the flagship , Seattle berthed, the big vessel coming alongside without fuss, even the winches being noiseless, as they are electrical, British bluejackets who were sent from> H.M.s. Dunedin to give friendly assistance in handling the heavy ropes, must have felt it strange when an American officer directing his men ashore fret quently added a persuasive "please" to} his order. >'**^r&*i Chat with the Admiral. >-» ' Admiral Robert E. Coontz, who Is ?aj charge of the whole squadron, is bueirf nesslike - and approachable, though haj does not waste words. Hardly had the Seattle berthed before he was consult* ing a representative of the New Zealand; Government regarding shore arrange* ments. Hβ received your correspondent with a friendly question which waa a direct invitation to get to business, and, as the son of an old newspaper man, ha reeled off "copy" without much assistance, though hia right-hand officer fo'H the day, curiously enough, was a representative of a big American newspaper syndicate, who, under American naval conditions, can evidently fill a double) role. "We have had a very pleasant journey, from Melbourne," said. Admiral Coontz, "with the exception of one day, when there was a moderate soa, and our ships felt it. We sighted the mountains of the South Island yesterday afternoon, and the first New Zealand" light at a distance of 35 miles, instead of the usual fifteen. This morning we bad a great view of your beautiful hills of both islands, and what pleased us most was to see the green on them. It surprised, and pleased us too, when we saw co many people on the hillside and harbour front to witness our arrival." Admiral Coontz commented on the size and convenience of Wellington harbour for holding an immense fleet. "Soma harbours," he said, "are big. but either too deep or shallow, but Wellington gave good soundings." "No, I'm not be be caught." added Admiral Coontz. smilingly, when a Wellington pressman asked how the harbour compared.with Auckland's. "If you press the matter I shall say that they are both the same." Utility of the Cruise. "The vast number of our young men have never seen the Southern seas before," remarked the Admiral, "and thi9 was shown by the fact that when we crossed the equator over 22,000 had to pass inspection and trial, though none were sent to Davey Jones' locker. Our cruise is a test of our capacity to go long distances. We are drilling all the time at sea. We want to demonstrate that we can get along all right—these 18,000 miles without major repairs, and up to the present, our ships are intact, and, I 'believe, in their respective harbours, except one on the way from the States, with fuel and provisions. Yes, ,, said the Admiral, in reply to a question suggested by his last sentence, "we are self-contained, except for fresh vegetables, and we carry our own money. However, it ran out in Melbourne, with some of our ships, and we had to issue bills of exchange for gold." A procession of visitors awaited the admiral, including admirals in charge of other big ships, who came to report safe berthing and to join in a long series of official calls, which took up the rest of the afternoon. Admiral Coontz gave your correspondent a brisk hand-, shake, which conveyed, in the friendliest of fashion, that he must get on to his next task, and he finally assured his visitor that everyone on the fleet looked forward with eager anticipation to meeting New Zealanders and seeing their wonderful country.