THE FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 7

THE FLEET.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION IN SYDNEY. TRAFFIC OVERTAXED. FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE. (m TELEGRAPH —rKESS ASSOC] ATION" —COPYRIGHT.) Sydney, August 20. The weather is fine and bright, but cold. Visitors have been pouring into tho city all night, and since before daylight thero has been a steady exodus to vantage ■ grounds along tho coast and harbour foreshores. Every possible means of transit is being pressed into service, and all vehicles are densely crowded. Some people, in an excess of enthusiasm, camped out all night. Tho high, rocky coast extending for miles from Botany to tho Heads, affords a magnificent panoramic view of tho approaching Fleet, which is expected to bo signalled off Botany at 9 o'clock. Tho spectators afloat and ashoro along tho route number sonio hundreds of thousands. Shipping in tho harbour is gaily dressed. The final touches have been put to the decorations, and the city looks its best. Admiral Sperry sent the following wireless roply to Lord Northcote, on behalf of the Government of tho United States and the Fleet: — "I thank you most heartily, and, through you, the people of the Commonwealth, for your gracious message of .welcome to the American Fleet. . Tho officers and men aro looking forward with most pleasurablo anticipation to a better acquaintance with their kinsmen of this great member of the British Empire." AN IMPOSING ENTRY. THE WARSHIPS MET BY A VARIED , FLOTILLA. FIFTY ACCIDENTS REPORTED. (Rec. August 20, 7.15 p.m.) . Sydney, August 20. The morning broke clear, • but before 8 o'clock a 'heavy smoko fog obscured the coastline. Tho prospects of ■ viewing tho Fleet appeared to bo remote, and there was a feeling of disappointment that the visitors' welcome would take place on a grey morning. The Fog-Veil Lifted. Even at 10 o'clock, littlo improvement had takon place. At 11 o'clock, as if tho wholo thing had been pre-arranged, tho mist lifted lileo a curtain, and revealed tho White Fleet gleaming in the sunlight and standing towards tho Heads. Along tho frowning coastline north and south of the harbour opening, silhouetted against tho skyline, was a serried rampart of humanity. As the flagship, Connecticut, leading tho Fleet, entered close up to the North Head, a mighty cheering commenced on tho South Head, which was taken up by the crowds on the North and Middle Heads. With tho shrioking of tho sirens and whistles of tho flotilla of steamers, black with peoplo, fringing the fairway, tho noise was deafening. Tho Fleet entered in singlo line,. tho vessels moving swiftly round tho Southern Head into tho'Eastern Channel, and gliding up tho harbour 'at evenly spaced distances to their various borths. At every point along tho harbour course huge crowds cheered' the vessels as they passed. Salutes Exchanged. Tho Fleet mado its bow to Australia by a salute of twenty-one guns, fired by tho Connecticut as she passed Bradley's Head, to which Fort Denison replied. Prior to entering tho harbour, the Fleet manoeuvred for an, hour off the lighthouse. At 11.30 a.m. it stood, out and formed into lino, preparatory to making its entrance. As the fog cleared away, tho. sight was magnificent. Tho slopes of the harbour wero evorywhero black with humanity. Crafts of all descriptions were moored outsido tho fairway, all traffic being stopped during tho entrance. Without fuss each vessel steamed to her anchorago and dropped anchor. By one o'clock all wore moored. Mighty Volume of Traffic. . Tho traffic arrangements were quite unable to cope with so huge a multitude converging on the Heads, and many thousands walked the whole distance. Tho stream of traffic sot in beforo daylight was properly established, and maintained an unbrokeni rush till 11 o'clock. By that hour practically the wholo populace of Sydney and suburbs, with tho influx from other States, were entrenched at every available observation point on tho coast and . harbour frontages and on tho harbour itself. Tho scene was most animated along' tho fairway, which was kept clear for the incoming Fleet. Everything that could float in the way of a boat was moored with its living freight, and through .this'avenuo of craft tho Fleet moved up, each ship majestically falling into its allotted placo with clockworklike precision. Accident List. Accidents wero numerous, there being many serious tram accidents. Some seasick passongers fell overboard at tho Heads, but wero rescued. A man fell from the roof of a tram-car and was killed. About fifty porsons aro being treated at the hospitals lor injuries. It is difficult to estimate tho numbers who witnessed the magnificent pageant, but it is bolisved that fully 400,000 viewed tho spectacle. Tho weather is glorious. Tho streets wore almost. deserted during tho reception. During their long wait, prior to tho arrival of tho Fleet, tho spectators in the harbour wero entertained with a display of daylight fireworks in tho shapo of bombs, which, exploding, displayed Union Jacks, birds, boasts, and other designs. Official Calls. Admiral Sperry was greatly impressed with tho enthusiasm shown at tho reception. At 3 o'clock Admiral Sperry landed amid the booming of guns, tho Naval Brigade forming a guard of honour. The Admiral called on the Governor-Gene-ral of the Commonwealth, Lord Northcote, and a littlo later Lord Northcote and Admiral Sir Harry Rawson (Governor, of Now South Wales) returned tho call. 'That concluded tho official business for the day. . SYDNEY EN FETE. THE DECORATIONS DESCRIBED. (Rec. August 20, 9.45 p.m.)

Sydney, August 20. Tho city to-night, brilliantly • illuminated, with both tho American and tho English vessels glowing with a myriad of lamps, presents a wonderfully beautiful scene. Although the city illuminations do not roach in extent the efforts that were put forth at the timo of tho Commonwealth celebrations, still what has been done has boon well done.

The most imposing decorativo effect is that of an immense statue of Liberty (after li.utholdi) in front of the "Daily Telegraph" Office. A bronzo statuo rises from the pavement to a height of some 60ft., and is flanked on either side with tho United States Hag and the Union Jack, worked with electric lamps.

(Frederic Auguste Batholdi, born at Colmar, Alsace, April 2, 1831, was a noted French sculptor. Among his works arc tho statue of Lafayette in Union Square, New York City, and tho great statue of Liberty in New York Harbour. The Sydney "Daily Telegraph" office is in King Street, which is a narrow thoroughfare—too narrow, most peoplo would think, for a GOft. statue.)

The Town Hall is beautiful in its simplicity, tho architectural outlines of the structure being lined with olcctric lamps. Tho Post Ollico presents a most, striking effect; tho hugo building is one sparkling mass of lights.

■tho Custom House is surmounted with the Mayflower,, and with the inscription: "To Our Kinsmen of the Mayflower"; while at Admiralty House, on the water front, the American coat of arms, in heroic, size and delineated in coloured lamps, casts its radiance across the Bay. Martin Place, in which the Post Oflice stands, is beautifully festooned with streamers in art shades suspended from Corinthian pillars, surmounted by the American eagle. Along Macquarie Street festoons of greenery cross and re-cross tho street, converting it into a long archway of green. At tho entrance to tho archway stand two massivo pillars. That on the right is surmounted with a golden eagle, and on the shaft of tho column is inscribed in gold the names of the American vessels. The columnon the left bears a gold lion, while inscriptions display the names of all the Admirals who have held commands on the Australian station. , , . ' •i A"- the public buildings aro gorgeously illuminated, hearing devices of a suitablo character. Tho streets aro crowded with sightseers., and bands- ■'play American and English airs at various points. Few of the men of tho Fleet aro ashoro to-night, as tho real entertainment does not commonco till to-morrow.

STATE BANQUET. A FATALITY. (Rec. August 21, 0.55 a.m.) V Sydney, August 20. One man fell over a cliff at tho South Head and was killed. The Governor-General entertained at dinner tho Admirals of the Ame'rican Fleet, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard I'oore (Comraau-der-in-Chief of the Australian Station), th"o Federal Prime Minister (Mr. Deakin), Federal Ministers, Members of the State Ministry, Privy Councillors, and Victorian and Councillors, and Victoria and members of the Queensland Ministers. The function was a brilliant one. ' Tho auxiliary ship Glacier arrived to-night, and the Relief entered the Heads an hour later. FLEET WEEK IN AUCKLAND, " THE ALLECIED PREVALENCE OF INSOBRIETY. EMPHATIC CONTRADICTION. The statement mado by the Rev. H. F. L. Palmer, of Sydney, as to Auckland being treated to a "bacchanalian orgy" during Fleet Week has aroused strong expressions of dissent from several members of Parliament who wero in Auckland during the Fleet festivities. Mr.- Baumo, M.P:, who has taken the trouble to ascertain tho views of a largo number of members 011 the subject, states that tho consensus of opinion is that the remarks of Mr. Palmer were quite uncalled for ? and that the general behaviour of the visitors, as well as of tho Auckland peoplo themselves during Fleet Week, was of a most credit-able character. Dr.' Chapplo and Mr. Laurenson, two'members of the No-License party in the House, were amongst tho members seen by Mr. Baume, and thoy both subsequently , gave , a statement of their impressions to tho representative of The Dominion. Dr. Chapplo said that ho was surprised, not to say indignant, that a statement so inuch at variance with facii should have been made by Sir. Palmer. "I spent the whole of Fleet Week in Auckland and Rotorua," lie said, "and my day and evening engagements took mo about so much and at all hours that if tho state of tilings as pictured by Mr. Palmor had occurred it could not possibly have escaped my notice. As one who observed tho conduct of tho American officers and men with a critical eye, I may say that their conduct throughout their stay in Auckland was most exemplary. . I saw absolutely no intemperance 'amongst tho officers, and practically none amongst the men.' I was also very gratified to notice that the proverbial respect shown by Americans to women was exemplified in tho conduct of tho American sailors. "On the evening before the departure of tho. Fleet," Dr. Chapplo continued, "I had been attending .1 medicr.l dinner, which broke np about one o'clock. After that I wandered about tho strepts and wharves interviewing the police as to the behaviour of'tho "American sailors. Tho testimony that I obtained confirmed my own good impression as to the general conduct.' I lnd occasion once to'. : .rondcr first aid to aJi injured sailor, and amongst tho crowd, of his companions who gathered around'him and subsequently rendered him assistance, there was no evidence whatever of any intemperance. Their v general behaviour was most kindly and manly. I regret that any one in tho name of temperance should havo thought it necessary to mako'such a- grossly unfair statement about the visitors."

Dr. Chapplo also remarked that ho had been glad to observe that notwithstanding tho doubts expressed in some quarters prior to their arrival the American visitors had treated tho Maoris with the greatest respect, and had regarded them as a superior, rather than a coloured, race. • . Mr. Laurenson also expressed'the greatest ■astonishment at the statement made by Mr. Palmer. "My expo-kmce," lie said, ' ! was entirely ill the opposite direction. Time and again during Fleet weelr I expressed, my surprise at the small aicount of drunkenness to ho seen 011 the streets and wharves. When one considers that a floet 'of warships had just arrived in port after a long voyago, with between 14.000 and 15.,000 seamen'on hoard, and that in addition there wcro several British warships in port as well as the fact that the city was crowded witli visitors,, nil Beat on a holiday, the small extent of drunkenness to be seen was. to my mind, phenomenal. Of course, Mr. Palmer may have witnessed scenes of an exceptional nature, hut all I can say is that I was very much impressed with the sobriety of both visitors and.visited. This also was the general view of all the Southern people whom I met in Auckland during my visit; any man who has travelled could not fail to bo impressed with the good' order and sobriety that prevailed in Auckland during a very cxcentional period. An officer of polico whom -1 know.ysind who was ; sent; up from tho South with twenty extra constables to assist in maintaining order in Auckland during Fleet week, said to me just before I left: 'It has bean one long holiday for us—in fact, wo liavo had nothing to do.' No one who traversed tho streets during. Fieet, week could do otherwise than corroborate that testimony." " . '' : 1