FRIENDLY NAVAL INVASION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 19, 22 July 1925, Page 5

FRIENDLY NAVAL INVASION

AMERICAN FLEET DIVIDED

ADMIRAL'S PARTING MESSAGES,

(ONITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTMOHT.) (Received 22nd July, 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day

A wireless message frcm the American Fleet says: We are sixty •miles off Gabo Head. At 6 o'clock last night the fleet divided; and the Melbourne division continued south, and the Sydney division turned north. Heavy rain fell throughout the day and the seas were short and choppy. Admirals Coontz and Robison exchanged farewell messages. Though the two divisions will meet again after the New Zealand visit, the admirals will not see cash other till they reach Pago Pago. It was just getting dark when, with flashing searchlights playing a farewell, the detachments lost sight of each other.

Owing to the battleships drawing thirty feet, they will probably not enter Melbourne till high water,-about noon. The smaller vessels will enter earlier.

A radio message from the Missisippi says: 'We are swinging into cruising formation. Battleship divisions four and five, forming the detachment which is to visit Sydney, have separated from the other ships o! the fleet, and are now proceeding northward at a speed of twelve knots, so that the detachment may arrive at Sydney at the same time as the other detachment reaches Melbourne. The California, the flagship of the battle fleet, will probably lead .the ships into harbour. Admiral S. S. Robison commands the Sydney detachment. Drills en route have brought the fleet s gunnery to a high point of efficiency. The officers and men will receive their pay in Australian money on the day of arrival.