SPERRY AT SVDNEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 5

SPERRY AT SVDNEY.

| ■ ■■ I !.■ WARMTH OF THE WELCOME. SURPRISE AT THE HUGE CROWDS. ANGLO-SAXON KINSHIP, (ni isLEGEirn—ritEss association—copyright.) (Roc, August 21, 9.40 p.m.) Sydney, August 21. The features of to-day's programme wero the official lauding of Admiral Sperry, the procession, and tho reception by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Northeote, on behalf of Australia, and by Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, State Governor, on behalf of Now South Wales. There' was also a luncheon to the sailors. Official Reception. At the official reception tho GovernorGeneral, Lord Northcoto, addressing Admiral Sperry, congratulated him on the safe arrival of tho Fleet, and said that Australians fully appreciated the skill and seamanship which had enabled 'him to bring so large a fleet over so many thousand leagues of sea. Australians also appreciated the kind feeling that had prompted tho Government of the United States to accede in so magnificent a manner to tho invitation to visit the Commonwealth. They folt that from tho visit they had much to learn, and that it should be an object lesson to them as to what national defence should be, and what is entailed on the people. He hoped that Australia would profit by America's example. Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales, on behalf of tho Stato said:—"As a naval officer, I am pleased with the exhibition of the Fleet coming here, for it speaks highly of your skill that you should bring tho Fleet across and arrive in tho manner you did." Mr. DeaUin and Mr. Wade. Mr. Deakin, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, extended the warmest greeting of kinship to tho Fleet and added : "I hail your arrival with great confidence in the resuits to tho two great nations wo represent. I trust that in tho reception accorded to you by some hundreds of thousands of the citizens of' this country, Admiral Sperry will realise that the greeting is in cssenco and in truth from the whole people of Australia." Mr. C. G. Wade, Premier of New South Wales, said: "We in this country feel keen interest in the visit of the United States Fleet, because, like you, wo havo sprung from English stock. Wo havo similar problems to encounter, and. hope to learn from your success the best way towards our success in tho future." Tho Lord Mayor presented Admiral Sperry with an illuminated address of welcome from the City. Deeper Than Curiosity. Admiral Sperry, in reply, said: — "Let mo say that at daylight yesterday wo found' more people than , wo over saw assembled on the cliffs around, and when wo thought tho supply of people was exhausted, wo saw on tho downs moro and more, till it seemed as if tliero must bo a million people giving us a welcome. Such a greeting could not but impress one. Thore must have been something more than mere curiosity; it must have had some deeper meau- - ing of sympathy and feeling between English-speaking people." Tribute to British Navy. After thanking Lord Northcoto and tho Federal Government for tho glorious welcome extended, Admiral Sperry said: — " Nothing could havo been moro grateful to us than the remarks of tho'distinguished Admiral, the Governor of this State, in welcoming us as a sailor. , We learned from the glorious traditions of tho British . Navy to hope that our people,-under tho shadow of our Fleot, must rest secure without ■ undue and , burdensomo military expenses.. Nothing can cross in tho face of tho Fleet 1 ; as long as tho flag floats- over it; and if .they did cross they could not maintain their position. As in tho days when your gallant Admirals ' maintained their position in winds and weather, in sickness and shipwrecks, in storms of the Channel and off tho coast of Toulon, and watched over tho seas that great flcots might not combine against you —we hope now and very happily, not in war, but in peace, to learn that same lesson of concentration and / of development of a symmetrical fleet, complete in all its parts, in-, formation, supplies, and personnel; , and our lesson has como from the glorious traditions of the British Navy." Tho Procession. After tho recoption, tho procession, headed by the Fleet bands and Ted by tho Lord Mayor and aldermen, followed by the Admirals aud their staffs in carriages, left the Domain by tho Bent Street gates and proceeded over a route laid out through some of tho principal streets, and leading back to another portion of the Domain, thence to Macquarie Point. Tho streets traversed, in tho order of procession, . wero as follow: —Macquarie Street, Collego Street, Park Street, Elizabeth Street, Bathurst Street, George Street, Martin Placc, Pitt Street, Bridge Street, and back to Macquarie Street. At Macquarie Point, in the Domain, tho officers and men of the Fleot wero entertained to a picnic lunch.

Tho streets along the route wer<j .elaborately decorated, notably Macquario Street, Martin Place, the Citizens' Avenue in Park Street, and tho American Avenue in Pitt Street. Venetian masts line tho sides of the streets; thousands cf flags, Stars and Stripes predominating,, flutter everywhere; and strung from the sides of the streets are flags interspersed with shields and other emblematic designs, mottoes, greetings, and greenery. Martin Place is,a blaze of colour Tall white plaster columns flank each side, capped with golden eagles and crowns, long streamers of many-coloured drapery roofing the street over, the wreathing of greenery giving a finishing offect-. Macquarie Street provides a splendid picture, tho interweaving of brilliant colouring and greenery, and tho gleaming white columns, producing a fine artistic dlfect. The procession of such a large body of visitors, riflo on shoulder, and their smart appearance and splendid discipline, raised enthusiasm to concert pitch. Tho tramp of tho marching feot was' constantly punctuated and : drowned by rolling bursts'of cheering as tho procession threaded its way through tho sea of people packed from end to end of tho long route. Bands stationed at various points discoursed music. Tho people fully entered into the spirit of the welcome, and everywhere was enthusiasm, good humour, camaraderie. Yesterday's Crowd. The American officers and the men generally aro delighted with the reception, which is tho biggest thing in the way of receptions they have yet had. They aro surprised by the number of peoplo who took part, and aro full of wonder at tho size and beauty of tho harbour. It transpires that Admiral Sperry previously visited Sydney in tho old warship Kearsago forty years ago. Over 132,000 peoplo reached Sydney by train alono yesterday morning. Tho suburbs aro practically deserted. Tho "Herald" estimates that tho number who viewed tho fleet was over half a million. Another estimate is that there were two hundred thousand in tho vicinity of tho Heads during tho busiest time.

Tivo ferry boats crowded with passengers camo into collision. Thero was great excitcmont for a time. The steamers, however, escaped with slight damage. Tho crowds behaved splendidly. Thousands woro unablo to find room on trains and steamers, itnd walked miles to witness the Fleet's approach-from tho coast, in many cases only to wnot ivith a double disappointment, arrives too Into to goo its arrival, snOoing

too far:from the Heads to witness its entrance. Amongst tho features of tho wclcorno was the ringing of peals of bell?. Landing of Troops: Regulations Relaxed. Ono hundred aud fifty officers and over 2000 sailors landed to-day with Admiral Sperry, and participated in tho procession. Tho . Imperial regulations restricting the landing of armed parties of foreign troops liavo been relaxed to enable tho men to como ashoro with tlieir rifles and side-arms. Troublo was threatened over the matter. Admiral Spcrry firmly declined to allow tho men to land unless the concession was granted, and eventually, on Mr. Deakin's advice, it was decided to permit the landing of tho party under arms. Admiral Sperry, in an interview, warmly acknowledged the enthusiastic welcome accorded tho Fleet, adding:' "It it very pleasing to us to think it indicates a real and heartfelt sympathy between tho two Englishspeaking nations." THE SCENE AT NIGHT. STATE BANQUET. (Rec. August 22, 1.8 a.m.) Sydney, August 21. The streets are again densely crowded tonight. Although a largo number of sailors landed from the Fleet, the great extent of tho illuminated streets, and the enormous crowds make them a negligible quantity in the scene. Tho streets are quiet and orderly. Tho State banquet in the Town Hall tonight is a brilliant function.