THE FLEET AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 9

THE FLEET AT AUCKLAND

" (bT. TELEGRAPH—BPECrATj'REPORTER.) ■ ) - ■ Auckland, August 9. . Tho Fleet has arrived, and. Auckland,-with some 'assistance from the rest of New Zealand, has welcomed it with' opon arms. ' A journalist, who'has como'with the squadron all the way frqm the Atlantic, says that no other/town, ha# been decorated so' handsomily as-Auckland. Those who were here at the visit of tho t)ukq and Duchess, of York both as to -the decorations of tho streets and the assembling'of tho multitudes that occasion is' quite outshone by the' present. ' .. But the-first.-and--best sight of the White Armada was . seen in surroundings of utter quietness. -Tho suii had just risen- behind Waiheke Island. when tho writer of these lines; stopping on a small launch,, which floated on tho calm waters between Rangitoto and Takapuna, first saw the sixteen battleships of the American cruising-squadron., It was-a sight; that can never be forgotten. Under, a; clear, blue sky.;-the ships were dis-' cerned in a long line near tho northward horizon."''As nearer, and the first raj'jj.'pf the-sun gleamed on their white hulls, the spectacle became-magnificent. Fortunately there was just enough of a land breeze to ; 'carry all.tlio smoke/clear away to westwiird, I 'a'nd-4hus. thero .was an uninterrupted' view of the Fleet.

- - On coming a ,little nearer, the battleships str.etched .in a long lino from Tiritiri to near ' tho'Rangitotoibcacon. .'The Fleet glided on so ' gently that its bows scarcely made a ripple on''the glassy water tha:t reflected the white hulls,- .and'buff-coloured ~. Aipperworks and funnels. v ,Tho American .Jack on each prow, . anct ; the : Stars . and . Stripes at the;stern were .. jiist'lightly-lifted by the soft breeze. r ;'At'7!3()' a , im;' 7 Admiral Sperry's flagship, the ~ Connecticut, began, to shape a more easterly course, arid as the first ships passed the Takapuna cliffs a'..thick fog bank drifted over Takapuna and Devonport, and there must have.'been keen apprehension amongst the sight-seers who had already gathered on the shores and hills. 'But : the fog cleared away about a .quarter'of an hour. . , At twenty minutes to eight, the guns from Fort Takapuna fired a! salute, which was returned from the flagship; At that moment a number of excursion boats, craihmed from stem to stern with people, and , listing reck- . lessly as"'they turned, steamed ■ around tho North Head. A salute of twenty-one guns from the flagship was answered'by Fort Cautley, ' and at ten minutes past eight, o'clock the Connecticut'rounded the North Head and came into the inner harbour, firing another salute 1 just afterwards. ■

As' the ships steamed slowly to their anchorages they were watched by thousands of people 1 from •'poiiits *'ofß ■'on both jides of the Tho Devonport Wharf, Fort Cautley, and Mount Victoria ivere the favourite vantage grounds on the ■fine.side, while, on the other side Campbell's' Pointy the reserve. above Admiralty House, '[and the Railway and Queen Street.wharves 'gave standing room for many eager "sight■Yeejs. : Those, who know Mount Eden could tell that the black line along its summit was aot trees, but human beings, taking a panoramic view of the great doings on the water. • ' Lying ''out in' the ' stream ; opposite the Queen's 'Wharf tho British cruisers Powerful, Encounter, and Pioneer awaited the visitors. The Powerful and the Encounter at any rate lid not appear, when one looked at the pag>ant simply as a pageant, to bo outclassed by the American ships. There was. no very noticeable'difference in size, and the grey of the British Navy looked more.substantial and formidable than the buff and white of the American.' ;*- In'the afternoon tho Queen Street Wharf, ' which had been crowded all day, was crowded •still more, for parties of sailors were ashore from every ship of the Fleet, and at night Queen Street was filled from end to end and side to'side.. 1 > .. 1

-V-; TOO EARLY. .. \d\' TELEGRipiI—PBESS. ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, August 9. ' The great white fleet of the United States in Auckland Harbour at 8 o'clock ■ this morning. It was a; red letter day in -the history of the city. ". The''sight was one which tvill'long-linger'-in the membry- of tho ■ thousands who witnessed it. - It-was tho eight'of 'ar*lifetime." The older generation -had never witnessed such-a spectacle before. ;-and it is doubtful whether the younger will ever see one like it again. ' Unfortunately. many - thousands were disappointed'owing to some bungling as to tho timo when the fleet would actually enter the '-harbour. The original intention was that -Admiral Sperry -and his long retinue of ships should enter at 9 but on Saturday > a wireless messago was received from him by the storeship' Cuigoa, which preceded the battleships and had anchored in tho harbour the previous day, stating that lie expected to arrive at 8». o'clock. This time was generally- regarded, as too early, and as it was thought tho Admiral- would not mind delaying the' actual entrance into tho harbour for a couple of hours in order that tho Bitcctaclo might not suffer through the early August fog or haze, and that those living at: a distance might 'have ■ ample time in which to occupy places of vantage, the /Mayor yielded to a general.desire that tho Admiral bo requested to hold , tho ships off until 10 o'clock. Accordingly Mr. Myers dispatched a special wireless message to this effect per medium of the Cuigoa. Last night a nptico: was posted up in a prominent position, in Quoen Street announcing - that the fleet would arrivo at 10 o'clock, and -this was seen by the many thousands ..who jvere parading the main thoroughfare of the ' city -and ■ viewing the decorations and illuminations. Peoplo went homo.fully convinced that this would-be adhored to, but • they were considerably surprised when, at 7.30 this morning, tho big signal fi.n-wa lic'ard indicating that tho Fleet would enter Waitemaia Harbour half-an'-hour later. THE FIRST CLIMPSE. The consequence was that when tho Fleet did dnter. instead of/already having taken up their positions from which to view tho ships, thousands upon thousands of peoplo were to be seen rushing along all streets making for 1 foreshores in order to catch a glimpse .of tlio mighty battleships. 1 -Still, many—they wero to-be numbered by thousands—had been up .(it daylight, determined to tako.no chances, 'and all the-principal vantage points—Camp- -■ hell's Point, Takapuna,-Cheltenham, etc.— were thronged at an o»rly hour. Thousands crossed over by ferry boats to North Shore, desiring to see. the first' of tho ships before they rounded.North Head. A great many had gono down the harbour to meet them in craft-of -all kind —steamers, yachts, motor . launches—and the picture tho harbour presented at eight o'clock, when Admiral Sperry's monster Connecticut rounded North Head was superb."

MEMORABLE SPECTACLE. VISITORS ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMED. THE ADMIRAL'S GREETINGS TO NEW ZEALAND. THE CITY CROWDED WITH SIGHTSEERS.

: It was a glorious morning. An Auckland August day lias rarely broken so beautifully as this one broke. The rain that had been feared held and instead .there was a sky of glorious blue and a warm sun. It was a day of days in every sense, llie great white ships coming slowly round the Head in single file glinted and flashed in the sunlight like things of beauty. It was a majestic spectacle, and tho firing of the fort salute and its acknowledgment, the exchango of salutes between ho American Fleet and the ships of tho Australian. squadron lying in the harbour, was stirring- to a degree. Monster guns rang out on tho clear crisp air with mighty sound, and the sounds echoed and reverberated in the hills. WILD ENTHUSIASM. A great cheer broko from scores of thousands of throats, as the bands 'which, had gone down in some of the steamers that met the battleships struck up, Tho people grew wild with enthusiasm, and cheer upon cheer wont , iip. It was wonderful to see these ships. How they marched liko soldiers of''a well-trained army. . Everything was done with clock-like precision., Their .fame had spread before them in this connection. It was known of [thorn long before that they were a great :pieco of machinery wherein everything is ordered well, and everything does exactly what is required of it. But it was something to see it done. It was astonishiug. i.- ' IN SINGLE FILE. J As has been stated, tho battleships came in single file in long extended lino, tho one behind the other. The paco was dead slow. Each ship seemed to be separated from the other by exactly the samo stretch of water, and as they slowly crcpt to their anchorago, each taking up its allotted place in the harbour,- 0110 could not fail to be struck with tho marvellous handling of these great white beauties. The wholo thing—all the manoeuvres—was carried out with mathematical accuracy. Horo were, tho mighty ponderous battleships of tho American Navy, sixteen majestic _ships of war costing .twenty mil-' lions, being manipulated as if work was a more.-'bagatelle. THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY. On . the Parliamentary train from Wellington it was announced ' the Tutanekai would leave the wharf at 8.'30 a.m. 011 Sunday, taking members of Parliament, I'ressmon, etc., to view the fleet. The vessel loft at 9 a.m. \with a largo crowd on board, and circled round tho Fleet, viewing all the warships at close quarters, pennants beingdipped on both sides. General admiration was expressed at the wondorful manner in .which the ships had come up tho harbour and anohored. 'The view 'of the Fleet off Dovonport was superb, all the ships being independently visible and manned l fully. . ' ' FORMAL CALLS. The cruisers Powerful, 'Encounter; and Pioneer, of the Australian Squadron, wero stationed in the stream just opposite Queen's Wharf, this position- being right in tho ceiitro of the American lines. Those ships of the visiting Fleet which passed the Ifritish vessels.ihad-:,?theiri kujdsoons,-hoard playing. "God Save'.;thG.:King.?'-.,,; Admiral SperrV,, immediatey'ioli>TthdWloet-i!)ohlg''mo'6i-ea^pi , 6- ! acceded to -the British flagship to call upon Vice-Admiral Sir- Richard Poore. Ho then ■landed and called: on his Excellency''the Governor. Both'these formal calls" were duly returned. Tho American Consul-General, Mr. Priekott, called on Admiral' Sperry during the morning, and the civic and Ministerial visits to the flagship took place in the afternoon. Tho Mayor was accompanied by tho'Town Clerk Qity Engineer, and the secretary of tho Harbour Board, and tho Ministerial party consi steel of Sir Joseph Ward', and tjio Hons. J. M'Gowan, J. A. Millar, and Dr. Findlay. Mannas wore drawn up on the quarter deck to salute thorn as they departed, and fifteen wore fired.

' THE ADMIRAL'S MESSAGE. CREETINCS TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ' ZEALAND. The following message has been given by Admiral Sperry to tin people of New Zealand:— : "l am very glad to have the pleasure of visiting Now Zealand, and appreciate vory much tho enthusiastic and cordial recaption given to tho United States fleet, I regrot very muoh wo •have been unable to visit any othor portion of your fino Dominion, and I send friendly greetings to the people of New Zealand."

, WORDS OF WELCOME. THE GOVERNMENT'S SOUVENIR BOOK. :A souvenir book, printed by the Government for presentation to tho officers of tho American Fleet, contains the following greeting .written by the Primo Minister:—. "No vlslt'of tho warships of foreign Powers has evor been so welcome as yours is to-day, for in receiving the fleet of tho U.S.A. a sense of kinship stirs our hearts. We fcsl that tho greatest nation of tho West has como to visit us, for tho fleet of a nation Is more dlreotly-.a part of it ; than any other of the visible embodiments of its majesty and dominion."

After reference, to pride in the ties of kindred, the address continues: "Your President, by' every' act and ; word of his life-work, reflects and voices our own national ethics and' aspirations. With him and with your nation we, too, would lead and ' live a strenuous life, .based upon .honour, fair dealing, and human kindness, in tho ■ love 0? God. / The namo of 'E-oosovelt' in this Dominion .stands for national righteousness, as cherished, honoured, and revered. We believe of him, as lias been said of ono of our immortals, 'that-ho lias 'Never sold truth to servo: the hour, nor pal•tered witfy the Eternal God for power,' and in that ho typifies to s us our sym- > pathiesand ideals. We look to him as a faithful counsellor and friend. Tho armaments of America, and, abovo all, her navy, are but tho majestic instruments for working out tho aims of a higher civilisation.. Your fleet stands ' for peace, not war; for justice, not aggression; for freedom, not tvranny. It • is all theso thoughts and feolings stirring ;in our hearts tp-day that lift our welcomo above any more international courtesy. Our hearts go out to you, our hands grasp yours as brothers, friends, and fellow sailors. 'Haeremail Haeremai!'"

MINISTERS INTERVIEWED. THE PEEMIER INTENSELY GRATIFIED, In a short interview Mr. Fowlds said tlio harbour surroundings presented' a fine "sight. Such a mtgniiicent display would be impossible in any other port. The American ships looked fit for business. The crowds were beyond his expectation. The whole city had done _moro thnn credit to itself in tho preparations made for the reception of tlio fleet.

Tlio Prime Minister (Sir Josoph Ward) on being interviewed expressod his intense

gratification at tho fact that tho proceedings of "Fleet week" had been inaugurated under such happy auspices. ■ "I am very pleased," 110 said, "to have had the opportunity this morning of seeing tho various vessels of tho fleet coino in and talco up their allotted stations in the beautiful harbour. The sight well repaid the trouble of, those who had come long distances to seo it. Tho scene was unique, and it is likely to bo a long time boforo its like will bo repeated in theso waters. Tho visit of sixteen vessels of war at one time is an event of great intorcst in tho history of any port, and Auckland has indeed been honoured . in being accorded tho distinction of receiving-, the visit of tlip American Fleet." On speaking of tho beauty of tho sceno of tho harbour, Sir Joseph said the natural attractions of tho' harbour and its surroundings added in 110 small' measure to tho picturesquo aspect of the arrival of tho fleet. Immenso crowds of people and tho animated condition of tho- harbour with the various craft running to and fro formed, he said, a very -striking spectacle, and one which left 110 doubt- as to tho enthusiasm of tho welco'mo to tho visitors.

; Of tho decorations of the city Sir Joseph spoko in tho most flattering terms. "They aro altogethor very. excellent," ho said. "Queen Street-, particularly at night when lighted up, is a picture of which any city might well feel proud, and in other streets I havo visited I liavo also boen struck with tile cifectiveness of the decorations of so many business premises." Thopresenco of so many welcome banners from other parts of the Dominion was also referred to- by the Prime Minister'as a pleasing featuro of tho decorations. "I do not think that any moro marked way could havo been adopted to show that the welcome being extended to our American .visitors is a national one, and not in any sense confined to Auckland. The Mayors and Councillors of different municipalities' by sending these, banners have given fitting expression to the sentiments of the people of all the Dominion." MISCELLANEOUS. £39,000 TO PAY THE MEN. ! On every boat there is a young black bear presented by tho people in tho State of Washington. Those aro tho Navy mascots. Eighty thousand pounds' worth of English money is to bo taken aboard the Fleet tomorrow for the payment of the men. Parties of fifty to eighty men came ashore from each of tho battleships during tho afternoon, but the public will not be admitted on board the Fleet until to-mori'ow afternoon. ' • THE RUN FROM HONOLULU. EVOLUTIONS EYEHY DAY. . (BY TELEGBAriI— SPECIAL REPORTER.) Auckland, August 9. .The-Fleet left .Honolulu on July 22, and though some rough weather was encountered before reaching Auckland, tho run was, in tho naval sense of tho word, uneventful. Ten knots an hour was maintained until Tutuila was reached, where the Fleet steamed close iii shore, and tho usual courtesies were oxfchanged. It was after leaving tlie.Samoaii Islands that the weather became dirty and speed was reduced to nino and a half knots. ~ Subsequently .cloven and -a half was tho speed, it being necessary to mako up for lost..timo and havo somothing in hand. This was 'accomplished so. thoroughly that 011 Sat-urday,-the speed had to bo reduced to eight knots an hour so as to avoid reaching Auckland before the scheduled time. Tactical exorcises were conducted twico a day except during the bad weather. v Communication by wireless telegraphy, with Honolulu was maintained for' a considerable distanco, and then messages bogan to be jjassed between the Fleet and 11.M.5. Powerful in Auckland Harbour. Tho Fleet was cut off for 0110 night, from speech with the "outside 'world. , 4 DATE OF DEPARTURE. r The American. Fleet is timed to leave Auckland on.Saturday next at 8 a.m. This will bo a groat disaippointmont to a largo section of tho public, as it was expected that tho .exposition :of Npw. Zealand football to bo giveii on Saturday afternoon would be appreciated by the visitors.' Thero is, howevor, 110 probability r of tho visit being oxtended- beyond the time named, as all the details of tho. cruiso havo been planned' beforehand. '

HOSPITALITY BY THE ADMIRAL. It is understood that Admiral Sperry wished'to invito a largo number of guests to a reception on tlio flagship, but the programme of tlie week is so full of hospitalities from this side that there is no timo 'available. The Admiral will, however, give a dinner to His Excellency the Governor on Friday evening. '.

THE INFLUX. SCENE IN THE STREETS. (BY TELEGRAM—I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.) ■ Auckland, August 9., • ■The scene in the streots last niglit was a most animated one. Thousands wero parading Queen Street to see the decorations, and. they, had tho pleasure at intervals of seeing somo trials of the illuminations. The aroh was a really maguificent sight during tho short; timo it was illuminated, the "lags" especially looking wonderfully realistic, having the appearance of waving in the broozo. The displays at the-Strand Arcade and leading business premises wore also excellent i'lio arrival of tho Estonia express was wit-' nessed by such a largo crowd, added to the big number that camo- in by .tho train, that it was difficult .to got along the station,' and several police wero kept' busy keeping a passago way clear to tho cars. The express was literally packed,. largo crowds being in wait-' ing-right away back to .Hamilton, and some people travelled to Ruakurn in tho .hopes of spcuring i scats. Fortunately, there was' 110 law. against strap-hangors, but some peoplo thought it hard.to pay first-class fares tor the privilego of crowding into, cattlo trucks. Still; although told there were other trains to follow, the passengers preferred discomfort m a crowdcd oxprcss rather than reaching town late at night.' ■All. tho steamers wore crowded, and the greatest. difficulty has been- cxperionceS in .accommodating all tho visitors. Nearly every room in ,tho hotels and" boardinghouscs carries three' or four bods. ■ •t

I DECORATIONS AND ILLUMINATIONS. / AUCKLAND BY NIGHT. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER.) ,r , Auokland, August 9. . I'rom Monday till the end of the week Auckland will glitter and blaze in the evening from one end of the city to tho other with- illuminated welcomes to' American visiJ ors -_ The civic, Government, and Harbour Board authorities' illuminations havo been well supplemented by 'the business peoplo of Queen Street and Karangahape Road, and the display as a whole will be worthy of the city. i Last night thero were* several "full dress rehearsals" of.the illmninations which wore witnessed with pleasure by tho largo throngs' which paraded Queen Street till a late hour. The illuminations are exceedingly varied, as might havo been expected. Somo of the big firms lmv,o laic! themselves out to do justico to tho city and the occasion. Small firms have contented themselves with smaller effects, but tho composite whole will bo brilliant. Quay Streot, Queen Street, and Karangahapo Road will ,scintillate multicoloured designs, flashlights, and. transparencies from ond to end. -The various illuminations undertaken by tlio City. Gouncil-havo been intrusted to Mr, A. Wyllie, tho City Electrician, who has carried out tho different designs. An excellent idea is tho placing of 12 flaino-lamps of 2000 candlo powor cacli along Quay Streot. These will- provide tho necessary- illumination for tho landing stages, and they will also throw a brilliant light across tlio waters of tho harbour at night. The great arch of municipal welcome in Queen Street will bo a spectacle of flashing light at night. The principal illuminations will bo .throvm on tho wator side aud viewed

from tho anchored fleet should bo very fine, l.he word "Welcomo" will stream across tho water and red, white, and bluo lights will sparklo from the rest of tho arch on that side. On tho Queen Street sido the Jmon Jack and tho Stars and Stripes will bo illuminated with 600 lamps. This will bo a (lashing sign, and tho flags will havo the appearand) of waving' in tho wind. Light as clear as day will bo thrown from all the principal intersections of Queen Street by 120 powerful lamps at cacli crossing. In addition tn tho arc lamps, "tho City Council is carrying out a number of illuminations on f Quay Street buildings with the ■co-operation of the tenants of'tho buildings. There is a big map of the Dominion on tlio iiew Zealand Shipping Company's buildmgs, two radiating stars on tho buildings occupied by Messrs. Ryan, and two largo crowns on tho Northern Steamship Company s and Rawnsley aiul Co.'s buildings. Tho map of New Zealand will bo one of • onri a *' lrC i S - o '. 10 Street display. It is 30ft. in height. On tho North Shore at Devonjiort 400 kerosene torches will be placed along thoshoro from. Stanley Point to Ventnor House, about ono chain apart. On Mount" Victoria tho light from about 200 more torches will add to tho general illuminations. Tho I-larbour Board offices will present a ladiating face to tho ships lying at anchor. I' rein nearly, every window illuminated transparencies will shino. In tho rcntro of tho building's frontago are grouped four finelyexecuted transparencies, the largest of. them depicting Britannia welcoming Columbia with tho illuminated words "Hail Columbia." Above it on either side aro transnareneies of President Roosevelt and of Kino; Edward with the words "Honour to Mr. 'Roosevelt'* and "God Save tho King" attached to tho respective illuminationj. llie Government has had tho Government Buildings in Custom Street well done. Over 2000 electric bulb lights aro used in carrying out an ambitious colour scheme. Tho summit represents a turreted battleship with guns pointing out over tho harbour. Prom the masthead flies a flag. Below comcs the greeting " U.S.A. Welcome to Now Zealand" surrounded by stars, crowns, anchors, and other emblems. 'Tlio "New Zealand Herald" officcs havo a particularly striking display, which was. watched by largo crowds of spectators when-' lit up for tho first time "Welcomo" glitters from tho centre of the buildings beneath tho Empire crown in red. white, and bluo letters 4ft. in length. Tho American eagle stands out boldly, an electric symbol occupying many feet of space. .