OFFICIAL LANDING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 6

OFFICIAL LANDING.

' THE SCENES IN SYDNEY. *"'' A' GREAT WELCOME. By Telegraph-— Press Association.—Copyright.(Received .August 21, 2.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The round of Fleet festivities was fairly launched upon to-day. The official landing, the public re- i ceptions, and procession of admirals j and staffs and a large contingent of sailors of the Fleet, are taking place under perfect weather conditions, amid scenes of unbounded enthusiasm. From an early hour people began to gather along the line of route-, and long before the march past took pJace every 'inch of space was jammed, balconies, 'roofs, and every possible point, where '"a view was obtainable being occuL pied. Business is practically at a standstill. •.Seldom if ever has a larger or more genuinely demonstrative gathering been ' seen in Sydney. ' The landing of representatives of the "'American fleet, numbering 150 officers and 2350 sailors .and marines, was made at 10 o'clock at Farm Cove and Wool,loomooloo Bay- Thence the party march- > -ed to the outer domain. , The Admiral and staffs came ashore '»t 11 o'clock, at the Duke of York landing stage, the spat where the first Governor-General mado his first entry, on the east side of Farm Cove. The reception by the Commonwealth Premiar '(Mr. Deakin) and Ministers, the Stats Premier and Ministers, the Lord Mayor and aldermen, took place in an artistic pavilion, beautifully decorated. From the pavilion, preceded by the Ministers, the Admirals were driven to the reception pavilion in the outer Dcftnain, to which the Governor-General arjd the ■State Governor had previgaßly driven '■from Government House. Here in the presence of a brilliant ■gathering, including the heads of the military and naval forces, the Commonwealth and State Parliamentary leaders, civic authorities, and a representative contingent of the military forces, and a great concourse of people, the GovernorGeneral, the Governor, the Prime Minister, the State Premier, and the Lord Mayor of Sydney officially received and publicly welcomed the Americans. Admiral Sperry replied. * The scene, aided by bright sunshine, with a setting of noble trees, innumerable flags, and gay uniforms, was notable and impressive. The crowd of many thousands cheered enthusiastically during the proceedings.