THE PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 18807, 4 December 1924, Page 2

THE PACIFIC

COMING AMERICAN CRUISE. A PEACE DEMONSTRATION. REMINISCENCES OF PREVIOUS VISIT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, December 2. The Navy Departnrent has informed the Australian Press Association that Admiral R. E. Coontz, Commarider-in-Chief of the United States fleet, will command on board his flagship Seattle the vessels which are to participate in the Pacific manoeuvres, including the fleet which is destined to visit Australia and New Zealand. It is expected that Admiral S. S. Robinson will bq second in command, bis title being Covnmandcr-in-Chief of the Battle Fleet. The department is unable otherwise definitely to indicate the principal officers of tin; fleet, because considerable changes preliminary to tho cruise will no doubt be made in the officer personnel of the vessels already indicated for the lour. The dirigible Shenandoah will accompany the fleet on the manoeuvres to Hawaii, although it is considered unlikely that she will accompany the fleet to Australia and New Zealand, It is interesting to note that Admiral Coontz was a lieutenant-commanders <n the Nebraska, which participated in the 1908 tour. An examination of the records reveals noteworthy facts concerning the present position of many of the principal officers of the 1908 cruise and the present disposition of tho old vessels. Various men of minor command have become admirals, retired, or died, especially the older individuals, while others have been promoted and hold responsible positions in the Navy Department at Washington i and elsewhere in tho navy. Rear-Admiral 0. H. Sperry, who was Commander-iu-Chiof of the 1908 fleet, retired and died in 1911. Four of his personal staff on board the flagship Connecticut have retired. The remaining one, Lieutenant-com-mander Ridley M'Lean, who is now a captain in the Division of Naval Operations at the Navy Department, commented reminiscently upon the cruise sixteen years ago. Ho said to a representative of the Australian Press Association : “ We had more fun out of the rifle matches than anything else. I participated in these f t Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Albany. We were extremely surprised at the marksmanship and skill of the Australians and New Zealanders. We still cherish the cup which we received at Auckland, and have used it ever since as a trophy for the officers’ teams. We were beaten at Auckland, but wo received the cup anyway. Each match was the occasion of a big celebration, and the entertainment was prodigious—more than could properly be accepted.” Captain Harris Lanning, who headed the rifle team, is now commanding the Pennsylvania. He expects to participate in the 1925 tour, ami hopes to organise another team.

Lieutenant-commander J. H. Sypher, of the Missouri, who is now Commander of Naval Operations at the Navy Department, said that the 1908 trip to Australia and around the world was actually the birth of the American Navy. No one thing had been so helpful in the history of the navy, and it was to be expected that the proposed ’visit would have a commensurately beneficial effect. Lieu-tenant-command Sypher concluded ; “ If a naval war comes it will probably be fought in the Pacific. The visit to Australia and New Zealand will give our men the sea experience which they need; but I believe there is a far greater significance than that. We will show the people of the Pacific just what our navy is like, and we will become better acquainted with them and they with us. It will result in a spirit of mutual satisfaction and friendship. Every man on board the 1908 fleet enjoyed the trip. The hospitality of the Australians and New Zealanders was overwhelming. Tho nations of the world, and especially of tho Pacific, had no knowledge of the American fleet before 1908, but after that our navy was known in every corner of the globe. I myself wish I could go hack to those hot springs near Auckland. I wager they will certainly be crowded with Americans when the fleet arrives.”

The records show that a large number of officers of the 1908 fleet have been retired, and six others have reached the rank of Rear-Admiral and are now on active service. The Washington Naval Treaty made heavy inroads on the 1908 fleet, all but the Ohio of the Third Division and the Wisconsin, Illinois, Kcarsarge, and Kentucky of the Fourth Division being scrapped.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WHY NOT COME SOUTH? DR THACKER’S APPEAL, [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. “ Why is the American fleet not coming South?” asked Dr Thacker at to-day's meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board. “ And there is also the big Cnuarder that is going to Auckland with American tourists. Why should that ship not come to the South Island? It is the first time one of these tourist ships has come to New Zealand, and I think we should fry to get the ship to come South, and the passengers could then see the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition at Dunedin.” The passengers who wished to go overland, added Dr Thacker, could disembark at Auckland and go overland. In that way they would see Lyttelton and Canterbury.

Mr H. Holland supported Dr Thacker's suggestion. He said that as far as the American warships were concerned he was sure if an invitation were extended some of the ships would come South.

Dr Thacker said that while he was abroad ho had suggested to the officials of the Cunard Company that the ships on these tourist excursions should call at New Zealand. If the South made a move this time, probably the next ship would come South. All that happened now was that (ho people came to Auckland and rushed down to Rotorua and back in a dusty train, and they thought that was Now Zealand. It was not fair to the South Island.

It was decided that an invitation to visit the South Island be sent to the tourist ship and to the American fleet.