THE FLEET DEPARTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 274, 25 August 1925, Page 10

THE FLEET DEPARTS

> THUNDERING GUNS FROM THE SKIES

FAREWELL MESSAGES PASS BETWEEN SHIPS AND SHORE

Shrouded in a grey blanket of driving rain and mist, the United States Fleet of battleships, cruisers and destroyers, with their attendant auxiliary vessels, left the shelter of Wellington Harbour yesterday for the high seas en route for home. As befitted such a departure, the heavens paid their tribute. The overcast sky rumbled and thundered as the vessels proceeded towards the Heads. In the all too brief visit of the white capped sons of Uncle Sam many friendships were cemented, and in many Wellington homes there will be a feeling of regret over the departure of the grey vessels with their complement of cheery, courteous men.

Long before 10 o’clock, the hour for which the departure of the fleet was timed, crowds had assembled at the Pipitea Wharf until both sides of the .wharf were crammed with people calling farewells and last messages to the men looking out through the portholes and from the decks of the Seattle, Pennsylvania, and Richmond. Gay streamers linked up those on shore with their American friends aboard the ships. The bands of the Seattle and the Pennsylvania on their respective quarter-decks played the fleet’s farewell to the thousands who were not near enough to shout their verbal messages of good luck and bon voyage. Richmond Moves First. Gliding smoothly from her moorings went the Richmond, to swing slowly round and head for the entrance to the harbour. The departure of the fleet had commenced. Cheer upon cheer from the thousands of people on and near the Pipitea Wharf, and the answering cheers of the men of the Richmond were borne across the waters to the silently watching thousands lining the other wharves and foreshores. Frantically waving handkerchiefs from the shore were answered from the decks and gun turrets of the Richmond, as scarves, jackets, and white caps were, if anything, more furiously agitated. Contrary to expectations, the Seattle and the Pennsylvania were the last ships of the fleet to leave the harbour. Fol- / lowing the Richmond went the battle- / ships Oklahoma, and Nevada, with. the ■ white-painted hospital ship Relief following majestically in their wake. ■ Alli seemed to be activity then amongst the smaller vessels. Now partly obscured by the drifting mists, now revealed as the sum pierced the leaden sky, dispelling the white mantle ■of smoke, mist, and spray, the grey .armada stole silently towards the harbour entrance. The little fellows of the fleet, the destroyers, following the larger vessels, drove their sharp steel bows into the choppy sea and appeared to settle down to the work of getting home with earnest determination. '•For Anld Lang Syne.” Four of the seaplanes wheeled and circled above the departing ships for a time and then they headed up the harbour to hover, over the Seattle as she, too, glided out into lie stream. As the flagship swung her great bows upon the track for home deafening, cheers sped her upon her way, an echoing volume of farewell coming from the throats of the men standing to attention on her decks. Rising and falling, now swelling out as the gale caught up the strains, the band music from the Seattle reached those on shore. “Should old acquaintance be forgot . .• . .” As the last note of the old, old song died away, the flagship was fairly on her course towards the/ ocean. When the destrover flotilla were all under way the leviathan Pennsylvania commenced to move out into the stream, .her decks lined with white-capped men, rapidly moving hands waving their farewell to new found friends ashore. The 'Pennsylvania was well over towards the •Clyde Quay wharf before she began to swing slowly round and head down the harbour. Then the storm burst and rain obscured the great ship as she departed, leaving the harbour looking strangely deserted, and expressions of regret upon the faces of many as they peered after her. On the heights at Seatoun, Lyall Bay, Island Bay, and other vantage points crowds gathered in the drenching rain to watch the last of the fleet disappear I ,out to sea, dimly shrouded in the grey I mist. The fleet had gone, J THE VIEW AT TH? HEADS There was a good deal of disappointment among those who viewed the spectacle from within the confines of Lambton Harbour. It was not till they reached the entrance that the fleet took up stations. Those who witnessed the scene from Breaker Bay and the Heads were greatly impressed at the magnificent spectacle the vessels made as they moved out to sea. The fleet was led by a light cruiser, believed to have been the Omaha, and after her came two lines of destroyers, two abreast, then the rest of the light cruisers, the Memphis, Marblehead, Trenton, and Melville; then the hospital ship Relief, and after her the Seattle, followed by the Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Richmond, and Nevada. By the time the last of the battle cruisers were rounding Point, Halswell, the leaders of the column were dashing into the big waters of Cook Strait, three miles ahead. The fleet cleared for Pagapago, the American port of Samoa, after which they will visit Honolulu once more before returning to the Californian coast to go into winter quarters. SPECTACLE AT SEA Incoming passengers from London by the Tainui were treated to an unusual spectacle when passing Baring Hood at noon. This was the naval pageant provided by the United States Fleet, which had only cleared the Heads an hour previously. The whole of the fleet passed in procession, well off the land, but the sight was robbed of its full interest by bad visibility. Some of the warships could only be seen as moving smudges against the background of smoke, cloud, and rain. Still such a great display of naval force in such a remote part of the world was a rare sight. Several of the passengers had cameras ready for the great occasion, but the gloomy conditions prevented any very satisfactory results being achieved.

FAREWELL MESSAGES “OUTPOURING OF (JOOD FEELING” ADMIRAL’S APPRECIATION The Governor-General yesterday morning received the following message from Admiral Coontz, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet: — ■ “Your Excellency.—As the time has come when that portion of the United States fleet which has visited Wellington must depart from your shores, I cannot let the occasion go by without writing to tell you how much we have appreciated the kindness and the courtesy of yourself, and of your family, and of the entire portion of the people of New Zealand we have had the pleasure to meet.

“The outpouriitg of good feeling and of hospitality has been most marked, and I assure you, Sir, that each and every member of the fleet appreciates what has been done for them. “As I have previously stated, we expected to visit your shores in ordinary course, and to have a certain amount of official and private entertaining. But what you have done has overwhelmed us completely. “We leave, having not only a much wider knowledge of your country in general, but of your people in particular.

“With all good wises, very sincerely yours,

R. E. COONTZ, Admiral, U.S. Navy, Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet.” His Excellency replied by wireless as follows:— “I thank you most sincerely for ■ your kind message of farewell, which I am communicating to the people of Wellington. It gives us all the greatest pleasure to know that we have succeeded in making your visit pleasant, and on our part we have nothing but the happiest memories of your stay amongst us, and of the many friendships formed with, your officers and men.—Fergusson, Governor-General.”

On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand,’ His Excellence’ dispatched the following additional message to Admiral Coontz:—

"On the departure of the United States Fleet from these shores, I desire on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to express to you personally, and to the officers and men under your command,, our regret at your departure, and our sincere good wishes. We have greatly appreciated the unfailing courtesv and friendliness shown by all the officers and men of the fleet, and we shall retain /the ‘happiest recollections of your visit. “We wish to one and all a pleasant voyage and safe return home.—Fergusson, Governor-General.” MESSAGE TO PRIME MINISTER The Prime Minister' received the following message of farewell from the Commander-in-Chief “The officers and men composing that portion of the United States Fleet which has visited Wellington, and I am sure it also represents those parts which have visited Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, cannot leave your countrv without a word of good-bye. From the hour of our arrival we have received at your hands, and those of all connected’ with the Government, the most kindly welcome and the most courteous treatment. “I’ know that I speak of all when I thank you for what you have done. We have gleaned an inside view of New Zealand, its climate, its people, and its business interests. We know from our observation that it has a place in the sun. Words can ill express our feelings at parting, but we leave with the kindest thoughts and well wishes for all, and hope sometime in some small way to return some of the wonderful thing’s done for us in New Zealand.” GOVERNMENT’S GOOD WISHES In reply, the Hon. J. G. Coates telegraphed to Admiral Coontz:— “I thank vou sincerely for your letter and for its verv appreciative terms. It has given the Government and the 'people of New Zealand the greatest pleasure to have had the honour of this visit from your magnificent fleet, and to have had the opportunitv of becoming acquainted with yourself, your officers, and men. It is a source of gratification to know that your visit has been so much enjoved by all of you, and we are sure that it will greatly help in still further strengthening the bonds of friendship and good-will already existin£ between the United States and thia Dominion. We trust that the pleasant memories which vou cawv away with vou will go far in promoting that spirit of brotherhood among the Englishspeaking peoples which is so essential in maintaining the peace of the world. Io one and all we send our heartiest good wishes.” TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND In a statement to the Press. Admiral Coontz said: — . “The Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet views the parting from Wellington with a feeling of sadness. In the short space of two weeks the various detachments of the

1 fleet have grown to love your people and your country. i “We appreciated the fact that we were to visit New Zealand in the winter time, but as this was our only opportunity, possibly for some years, we took advantage of it. We really feel that you apologised too much for your climate. For, if you realise some of the hard winters we have to pass in the Northern Mississippi Valley, and in the United States north of the 40th parallel of latitude, you would understand what I mean. Although the area of your Dominion is not as great as that of some of our States., yet you have such a wonderful diversity of climate, of mountains, valleys, lakes, i and rivers, that almost any want can be satisfied. “It has been our pleasure to note the present wonderful prosperity of New Zealand, and we trust it may long continue. "The best part of our trip has been | the meeting with your citizens and 1 of having heart-to-heart talks with them i on matters of local and national interest, and thereby being able, to get a broader view point in all lines. “Our 22,000 men who have visited your shores will go home able to speak intelligently of New Zealand, and you mav be sure that thev go home as 22,000 friends, well wishers, and boosters for vour wonderful country. “It is to be regretted that more of your smaller ports could not be visited by the fleet, but for reasons of food and fuel and repairs this could not be done. However, the local trins have in some manner made up for this failure.

The Commander-in-Chief appreciates especially what the Government has done in the way of giving the pleasure of visiting Rotorua to so many officers and men.

“We sail in, the morning for our own native land, and as the days and nights pass at sea, New Zealand will be much in our thoughts. The distance of 7500 miles between our two countries will seemingly be lessened. “Vour' hospitalitv, courtesy, and kindness have really overwhelmed us, and for all that you have done for us on behalf of each and every officer and man of the fleet I thank you.” MAYOR AND COUNCIL THANKED To the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) , Admiral Coontz sent the following message:— “As the time approaches when we must sail away I wish to thank yourself and your councillors and city officials for the great consideration and courteous treatment you have extended to each and every member of our fleet. We have enjoyed your civic hospitality, and have become acquainted with the citizens in every walk of life, and have come to appreciate them as a wonderful, progressive, and friendly people. “We realise the possibilities of your harbour, and know that as the years pass Wellington will become one of the great cities not only of the southern seas, but of the world.” THE CITY’S FAREWELL The following letter was forwarded by the Mayor to Admiral Coontz on board tIX Seattle, before the flagship left the Pipitea Wharf yesterday morning “On tiie eve of your departure from our shores, may I be permitted to express, on behalf of the people of Wellington, an affectionate farewell to the entire personnel of vour Grand Fleet. “We trust that your stay amongst us, although altogether too short, has given as much pleasure to your people as it has to the citizens of Wellington, and that you will carry away with you many happy recollections and lasting impressions of this visit. We feel that the many friendships formed in the last ten days will enrich and strengthen the ties of kinship between the great Republic and the British Empire of which we form a small but loyal part. The citizens of Wellington bid you Kanui Te Arolia. Haere Ra Haere Ra.” \ N.B. —The Maori quotation, means, “We are filled with love; farewell, farewell.” “KEPT WITHIN BOUNDS” COST OF ENTERTAINMENT The secretary of the Fleet Entertainment Committee, Mr. N. A. Grant, when questioned on the point yesterday morning, said that he believed that they had kept well within bounds as lar as finances were concerned. To the best of his belief there would be at least a slight credit balance. Mr. Grant also stated that during the visit of the warships 23,000 packets of cigarettes were given away to the men of the fleet. Of these 20,000 packets were nurcliased, and 3000 packets were donated by Messrs. W. D. and H. O. Wills, to winch firm the committee extends its thanks. ADMIRAL’S LETTER TO INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS The following letter has been received by the president of the New Zealand institute of Journalists (Mr. C. J. McKinnon), in reply to the protest made in the name of the institute to certain unwarranted reflections, published in a small local weekly paper on the conduct of the men of the fleet: — U.S.S. Seattle, Wellington, N.Z., August 22, 1925. My Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of August 20 and I thank you foi same. It is inevitable that in all countries there are certain journalists who write articles of the character in question, but I rarely pay any attention to such articles. We appreciate very highly what you have to say as president of the N.Z. Institute of Journalists regarding the general good conduct of our men while on shore, and your regret as to what occurred in this isolated case. It is inevitable that among so many thousands of men there should be a few who sometimes misbehave. This is the more true because many of the young men who came to New Zealand and Australia tasted liquor for the first time. But from our own records we know the cases are very few, and we feel that we now have in the navy a very high tvpe of young Americans. ' Again ’thanking vou for your letter, ■ I am, very sincerely, (Sgd.) R. E. COONTZ, Admiral U.S. Navy. Officers and men of the U.S. Navy are allowed to take into their own councrv from abroad goods to the value of 100 dollars, duty free. Tn many ) instances the officers of the ships which visited Wellington spent the greater part of that sum—and it: some cases over it—on New Zealand-made rugs, which they greatly admire. One officer said that for rugs not nearly so good in quab’tv three times the local price was charged in America. They were a great treasure in n country where there was a motor car to everv six people, and half a dozen blizzards to every winter. .

LIGHT CRUISER DRAGS ANCHOR

MARBLEHEAD BUMPED BY OMAHA

. One thing not in doubt at all in the minds of the American sailors who have just left port is that it can “blow some” in Wellington. Launch troubles were not infrequent during the stay of the I Fleet in port, but on Sunday morning i the light cruiser Omaha . dragged her i anchor, as she lay in the stream, and before the course of her drift could be I stayed she bumped into the MarbleI head. It is understood that the initial ! bump was a pretty severe one, and that as the result the latter vessel was durI ing the day found to be leaking slightly. Temporary repairs were executed from within the vessel, with the aid of cement, which were considered to be allsufficient until the vessel can be placed in dry dock. TWO LAUNCHES SMASHED FROM THE DESTROYER MERVINE Whilst the crowds were waiting to see the vessels of the fleet move away from their moorings in th"e stream at 9.20 a.m. yesterday, one, the Mervine (No. 322) was seen to be under way, and after turning, shot away into Evans Bav, and stayed there. It transpired that two of the destroyer’s launches had broken away, and driven by a strong northerly breeze, which lashed itself into half a gale on occasions, both of the craft drifted down the bay, and were found on the rocky beach ’to the south of the Miramar wharf. Some sailors were landed to reclaim the launches. During the afternoon thev managed to get one of them off, but when some 30 or 40 yards from the shore, she sank. At that time she had two men on board, who had considerable difficulty in gaining terra firms, owing to the choppv sea and backwash. The other launch, said to be badly holed, is also on the beach The Harbour Board’s launch Uta, under Captain Spence, rendered assistance. ■ The Mervine was still in the bay last evening. There have been five mishaps to launches altogether during the visit of the fleet to Wellington. UNFINISHED LEITERS THE CARELESSNESS OF JACK ASHORE Many Wellington folk have a story to tell about the personnel of the United States Fleet—officers and men. Among them is the officer in charge ot the lounsi Department’s bureau, in the shed opposite the landing stages. It became the custom of the liberty men, whilst waiting for the 10 p.m. launches to the warships in the stream, to drop into the bureau for shelter and warmth, and there wait until the patrol men on duty at the landing called the name of their particular ship. Having time, on their hands, and seeing pens, ink, and paper placed there for use gratis, a proportion of the men would drop into a seat at one of the red-covered tables, and write letters to their relatives and friends. But this important duty was not proof against the stentorian voice 'of the patrol calling “Oklahoma," “Nevada,” “Trenton,” and so oh, for, as soon as the name of the writer’s ship was called, he would hustle away, leaving in many instances half-written love-letters. This being discovered—and the sailors made a practice of first addressing the envelopes, and writing their own names in a miniature square on the top corner opposite to the stamp! corner—the officer in charge regularly went round gathering these fragments of letters, finishing them off, and posting them. Thus in the fulness of time many a letter left unfinished in the rush for the night launch, should reach its destination unknown to the writer, to be received with joy by those who were left behind. MISSED THEIR SHIPS PATROLMAN IN TROUBLE By Teikgraph— Press Association Christchurch, August 24. A naval patrolman who missed his ship in Lyttelton on Friday, missed the ferry train on Saturday, and as a result he will have to be sent on the next mail steamer to Honolulu. The man reported to the American Consular agent on Saturday morning, and he was accompanied by a friend who promised to look after him for the day. The next thing heard was that the man had been found by the police in the waiting room at the railway station at one o’clock on Sunday morning, he having missed the boat train. As a result he was taken into custody at the Consul’s request, and will be forwarded to the fleet at Honolulu by the first steamer. Two American sailors arrived in Lvtlelton this afternoon, and endeavoured to get work on shins. As no work was offering they decided to return to Christchurch. Their reason for staving ashore was that thev wanted work on a “ranch,” but failed. to obtain any. Both have adopted civilian dress. AUCKLAND FAREWELLS FLEET SENDS GIFT TO BLIND INSTITUTE By Telegraph-—Press Association Auckland, August 24. ' To-day was a day of farewells between the American naval visitors and the real friends they are leaving behind. As a token of appreciation of the hospitalitv extended in Auckland, Admiral Robison lias forwarded to the American Consul for presentation to the Blind Institute a cheque for £lOOO. Every man in the fleet contributed, ami the money is to be used as an endowment to pay perpetually for the care and education of a child in th'b institute. Admiral Robison and his staff spent a busy day in receiving and returning farewell courtesy calls. The Hon. R. F. Bollard (Minister of Internal Affairs) was received aboard the flagship California by Admiral Robison at 10 o’clock. As representative of the Government he hade farewell to the Admiral and his fleet. The Minister -was entertained aboard the vessel, and when he stepped ashore was accorded a salute of nineteen guns. The Admiral and his staff returned the call at the Grand Hotel at 11.30 a.m. Several of the officers were guests of Mr. Bollard at lunch. Interviewed, Admiral Robison said: “I would have to search my vocabulary to find proper adjectives to express how we appreciate the wonderful way wc