THE FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 284, 25 August 1908, Page 5

THE FLEET.

SYDNEY CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED. A BOAT RACE. MESSAGE FROM ROOSEVELT. (BY TELEGRAPH —FRESS ASSOCIATION—COrTRIG HT.) ,(Rec. August-24, 5.40 p.m.) 'Sydney, August 24. Two hundred thousand people witnessed the reviov.' of tho naval and military forces in Centennial Park. There were 14,000 men and cadets under arms, including 2600 American sailors and marines.. u .The GovernorGeneral (Lord Nortlicote), the State Governor (Admiral Sir Harry Rawson), Admiral Sperry, and tho other Admirals, Mr. Deakin, and sixteen captains of the American Fleet ivero present at the saluting base. The reviow was the finest seen in Australia. Tho troops, after tho review, marched to Sydney, where the streets were thronged with hundreds of thousands of spectators. Glorious weather enhanced a brilliant spectacle. ' A great boat race between tho champion crew of the Louisiana and a dozen of the Illinois' best men, for a stake of. 28,000 dollars, was rowed across tho heads from near Manly to Clark Island, a distanco of three and a half miles. Each ship contributed 14,000 dollars. Tho Illinois crew got away first, but the Louisiana men,,rowing betters, drew level in the first quarter mile, and .at a milo had six lengths advantage, eventually winning by twenty lengths. Fifteen thousand persons inspected the fleet yesterday. Two sailors of tho fleet ivero drowned yesterday, one through tho capsizing of a boat, the othor through falling off tho wharf. LABOUR .' DECLINES. Melbourne, August 24: The executive of the Political Labour League declined an invitation to attend the' American Fleet reception. They consider the monoy would bo better spend in rolioving the unemployed. "A MENACE TO NO POWER." MR. DEAKIN AND THE PRESIDENT. Sydney, August 24. Lord Nortlicote, Governor-General of Australia, sent the following message to President Roosevelt oil Thursday:—"Australians, hundreds and thousands of whom aro gathered along the shores of Sydney Harbour to welco'tno the battleship fleet of tho United States, at this moment entering tho Eastern Gateway of this continent, unite in cordial greetings to President Roosevelt. Tho people of tho Commonwealth gratefully appreciato the generous response to their invitation by tho President and citizens of tho great Republic, and rejoico in the opportunity afforded by this demonstration of the might of American naval power to express their sincoro admiratioji of your sailors, and their esteem and affection for a country whoso glorious flag they hopo to seo always floating beside that of their Motherland."

Mr. Roosevelt" replied:—"l desire to oxpress to the :Governor-General and the Government, and thrdugh them to tho entire people of the mighty Commonwealth of Australia, tho appreciation which the American people feel for their generous hospitality to the American Fleet and the people. Their Ropublic hold in peculiar esteem and admiration the people of Australia, and it is a very real pleasure for me; on behalf of the nation, to accept' the goherous hospitality preferred by Australia to the Fleet on its voyage of pence, for the American Navy is a monace to no Power, but is, on tho contrary, as wo believe, an asset of high importance in securing peace and justice throughout the ; world." " ■ , RAIN FALLING. (Rec. August 25, 1.10 a;tn.) Sydney, August 24. : ' The illuminations to-night wore partly spoiled by rain, but notwithstanding there were largo cr.owds in the streets and in the Domain. ' ■

" Lord Northcoto's, ball at Government House was a, briliant function.