IN SERRIED RANKS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 5

IN SERRIED RANKS.

SYDNEY LOOKS ON THE FLEET.

IMPOSING SPECTACLE. OFFICIAL LANDING AT FARM COVE. By TelwiDh.— Tttm A«soe!it!fn.— Ooprrighfc < SYDNEY, 20th August. The morning broke clear, but before 8 o'clock a heavy smoke-fog obscured the coastline, and the prospects of viewing the entrance of the American fleet into the harbour appeared remote. Even at 10 o'clock little improvement had taken place. Meanwhile eager watchers on the heights about the heads had sighted the lights of the fleet shortly after 5 o'clock, and then lost them in the thick fog The ships were not observed again till 7.30, when only a fleeting glimpse of tho warships was obtained. Another long and anxious wait follow■•ed for the watchers on the cliffs. Suddenly tho mist lifted, revealing the white fleet gleaming in the sunlight and standing in towards the heads. The north and south sides of tho harbour opening, silhouetted against tho skyline, appeared like serried ramparts of humanity. As tho ships of the fleet approached the coast in single line, they presented an imposing spectacle. Running close inshore, the line broke into sections of fours, slackened! speed, and, as they slowly ran down the coast towards the heads, the battleships performed a series of intricate and interesting manoeuvres. A largo fleet of crowded steamers, which had gono out early to meet the squadron, fell jn behind and escorted the warships to the heads. An hour was spent in manoeuvring, and at 11.30 the fleet stood out again, and, turning in once more, entered the harbour in angle file, the flagship Connecticut leading. A MIGHTY BURST OF CHEERING. As the Connecticut entered, close up to the North Head, a mighty burst of cheering commenced on the South Head. The welcoming chorus was taken up by the crowds gathered on tho North and Middle Heads, and then was added the shrieking .of the syrens and whistles of the flotilla of pleasure steamers, black with people, fringing the fairway. Meanwhile the fleet rounded the South vHead, still in single file, each vessel moving swiftly, and all at evenlyspaced distances from their neighbours, and, entering the eastern channel, glided up the harbour to their various berths. Gaily-dressed craft of all descriptions were moored outside the fairway, but all harbour traffic was stopped during the actual entrance of the fleet. OFFICIAL LANDING. AdmiraJ Sperry's command mad© its bow to Australia with a salute of twen-ty-one guna, fired by the Connecticut as she passed Bradley's Head, and this was replied to by the battery at Fort Dennieon. Then each warsnip steamed to her anchorage and dropped anchor. At 3 o'clock Admiral Sperry made his official landing at Farm Cove, amid the booming of guns. The Naval Brigade formed a guard of honour. The Admiral called on Lord Northcote, the Governor-General, and a little later tho latter and Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, State Governor, returned the call. A STATE DINNER. Tho Governor-Genera) entertained at dinner the admirals of the American floet, Admiral Sir Richard Poore, commanding the Australian station, Mr. Deakin, and the Federal Ministers, members of the State Ministry, Privy Councillors, and Victorian and Queensland Ministers. The function was a brilliant .one. SCENES INJHE CITY. BRILLIANT ILLUMINATIONS. "IN FAIRYLAND." SYDNEY, 20th August. The city to-night is brilliantly illuminated, and with both American and English vessels glowing with myriad, lamps, presents a wondrously beautiful scene. The most imposing decorative effect is that produced by an immense Statue of Liberty, after Bertholdi, in front of the Daily Telegraph office. A bronze statue rises from the pavement to a height of some 60ft, and is flanked on either hand by the American flag and the Union Jack worked in electric lamps. The Town Hall is beautiful in its simplicity, the architectural outlines of the structure being lined with electric lamps. The Post Office presents a most\ striking effect. The Customhouse is surmounted by a figure of- the Pilgrim Fathers' ship the Mayflower and 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. -x Martin-place, in which the Post Office stands, is beautifully festooned with streamers in art shades, suspended from Corinthian pillars surmounted by the American Eagle. Along Macquariestreet festoons of greenery cross and recross the street, converting it into a long archway of green. At the entrance to the archway stand two massive pillars. That on the right is surmounted by a golden eagle, and on the shaft of the column is inscribed in gold the names of tho American vessels. The column on the left bears a gold lion, while inscriptions display the names of all the admirals who have held commands on the Australian station. All public buildings are gorgeously illuminated, bearing devices of a suitable character. The streets are crowded with sightseers, and bands are playing American and English airs at various points. It is difficult to estimate the numbers of the crowds who witnessed the magnificent pageant, but it is believed that fully 400,000 persons viewed the spectacle. During the period of waiting in the morning the spectators on and about the harbour were entertained by a display of daylight fireworks. TRAFFIC FACILITIES. The tramways and other traffic facilities were quite unable to cope with so huge a multitude converging on the Heads, and many thousands walked the whole distance (eight miles). The stream of traffic set in before daylight, and, once properly established, maintained an unbroken rush till 11 o'clock. By that hour practically th« whole populace of Sydney and suburbs, with the influx from the other States, were entrenched at every available observation point on the coast and harbour frontages. On the harbour itself the scene was most animated. Along the fairway, which was kept clear, for the incoming fleet, everything that could float in the way of a boat was moorod Kith ita Uv^^^hjtt _