The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1925. THE SAILING OF THE FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 24 August 1925, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1925. THE SAILING OF THE FLEET.

For the cause that lack* assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance. For the future hi the dixtance, And the good thai mc can <**■

i I The immortal character who said that : parting was such sweet sorrow, had the j meeting of the morrow in mind. In saying good-bye to its American guests New Zealand has no such consolation. llt knows that it is not likely that I another visit will be paid soon. Sevenj teen years separated the two fleet j visits, and years may pass before New { Zealand again 6ees a massed display of j American naval power. "Ships that . pass in the night, and speak each other in passing." Relative to the length of j history, our meeting has been no more ! than this. It has been, however, a i salute in the ocean of life that will 1 always be remembered by the parties, and will have lasting effect on mutual relations. We have seen the American Navy in all the majesty of its might; we have made friends with officers and ; men; and our guests, we hope and be- ! lieve, have found their stay pleasant, and will take back to the United States 1 happy impressions of a laud that is : only a name to many of their countrymen. j The spectacle of this mighty power has made New Zealanders think more about the place of the United States in the world. Incidentally it has been an education in the development of naval design. A marked feature of the visit, however, has been the pacific nole in official ! speeches and newspaper comment. I There has been nothing that could be construed into aggression or desire for I war. The Fleet has been hailed as an instrument for peace between all nations. ilf the question of Anglo-American friendi ship has been uppermost, that is only 1 natural. These thousands of officers and I men are our kin in blood or in social and political inheritance, or both. They ; speak the same tongue, love the. same j literature, subscribe to the same root I principles of democracy, and go back to I the same fount of law. It is not at all j surprising, therefore, and it implies no I menace, that the vieit of the Fleet has j strengthened the conviction that friendship between the United State 3 and Britain is of incalculable value to the I peace and prosperity of the whole world. On the personal side the visit has been very pleasant. A little thawing had tc jbe done on both sides at first, but this I was not strange. Americans and New Zealanders live far apart and have developed differently. The warmth of local hospitality and the frank friendliness and ease of manner of our visitors soon prevailed, and the two communities became really good friends. If a host may praise his own hospitality, we may i cay that New Zealand's reception of the ■ visitors was worthy of its own honour, 1 and of their deserts. Our hospitality has ' been bounteous and wisely directed. , Officers and men have seen our cities, our countryside, some of our wonders, and what ie most important, the inside of our homes. The appeals for domestic hospitality met with a fine response, which will bear good fruit not only in individual friendship, but in gemeral understanding. By their approachability, tact, good humour, warmth of sentiment, and hospitality, the Admirals gave their commands an admirable lead, which was well followed. The conduct of all ranke i has been excellent, and the public has », been impressed not only by the public - behaviour of the men, but by their good ' manners and intelligence. Our visitors ' have, we hope, greatly enjoyed them[j selves; certainly it has been a rare ! pleasure to do what was possible to J entertain them. We trust they will take ' I with them, together with our best wieb.es, very agreeable memories of this j "green and pleasant land" and its > people.