A FINE SPECTACLE

Evening Star, Issue 19017, 12 August 1925, Page 2

A FINE SPECTACLE

STOSTIHfi SEAPLANES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August ]l. Ten ships of the United States combined fleet, which lias been visiting Australia after manreuvres in the North Pacific, arrived at Wellington to-day under the command of Admiral Robert K Coontz, The visit could not have been bettor timed from the meteorological standpoint. The week-end had been particularly wintry, and yesterday’s cold, biting southerly squalls made the outlook most unpropitious, so that even the Government Meteorologist, who is usually optimistic, forbore to do more than hope for better weather to-day.

The morning broke clear, though the light southerly air had a crispness to set the blood atingle, but a blue sky was overhead instead of the grey pail so much in evidence. lately. As the morning advanced, the city assumed a air. Buildings displayed a good deal of bunting, and people congregated at all points of vantage around the harbor frontage, even ou the ocean beach from the Beads towards Island Bay, which, with its sister seaside suburb of Lyall Bay, was afforded a fine spectacle as the squadron came up across Cook Strait and made for the harbor entrance.

The ships in harbor were dressed with hunting, and for a space of two or three hours, from about 10 o’clock, business was largely suspended everywhere, so that most_ people bad the opportunity of seeing in movement the largest collection of war craft that has yet visited this port. A BRAVE SIGHT. It was_ a brave sight, the memory of which will live long. As the time for tno approach of the squadron arrived the harbor steamers were thronged with sightseers, and they went down harbor to the Heads. Launches and’ yachts also carried their quotas to welcome the visitors. The squadron showed over the horizon about 10 o’clock, smudges of smoke marking the line of ships. A little later a squadron of six seaplanes swept in, having been catapulted from their parent ships about ten miles out. Suddenly, as the liotila of harbor ships was approaching Point Halswoll, where the late Prime Minister’s last resting place commands a view of all who venture in through the capital city’s portals, these planes came sailing overhead like great birds, made beautiful by the sunlight glinting on their silver fusilages. The planes swept on, changing formation frequently, circling over the city and harbor, and then returning seaward again as the ships of war came through the Heads. They entered promptly at 11.30, according to the schedule announced by Admiral Coontz, keeping station as all good navy ships are trained to do. Pirst came the battleship Seattle, bearing Admiral Coontz’s flag; then the Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Nevada, followed by the hospital ship Relief. Then came the lightcruiser division, the Richmond loading, with the Marblehead, Memphis, and Trenton, The supply ship Medusa was with this division.

Though something like a swell came in at the Heads (the legacy of the southerly storm so lately in evidence), causing the crowded ferry steamers to curtsy to the waves, the big war craft moved along steadily as if on the quiet waters of a lake.

As they passed in a big ship of peace, bound on her lawful occasion of comwent out, and there was the usual interchange of courtesies, each dipping her ensign as the punctilious of the sea so gravely insist upon. As they came abreast of the ports, the interchanges vve.ro repeated, and again as the warships passed the waiting and crowded steamers the same ceremony was observed. The ships’ bauds also played martial tunes, and the people, especially tho school children on the steamer Duchess, cheered the visitors. Bright sunshine flooded the harbor, yesterday’s cloud banks being reduced novy to fleecy wisps of vapor, against which tho wheeling seaplanes stood out black one moment, to be turned next instant into things of silvered beauty, ns they soared into the sunlight. The light northerly had a keen edge on it from its passage over tho Rimutaka Ranges, heavily coated with snow. The hills eastward of the harbor also bore light mantles of white in places, so that, despite the brilliant sunshine, which scintilatod on the myriad vravetops, tho air was crisp enough to make wraps ac- j ceptabie to sightseers. j CLOSE TO THE CiTY. j Steadily tho line moved up harbor, ' round Point Jerninghara into the; stream. Thousands of people lined the I

point and the shores of Oriental Bay, while all the high buildings seemed suddenly to have grown mfisses of gesticulating cheering figures upon them. The planes still circled above, or moved along in ordered formations, only to break into eccentric movements 1 again 5 while one treated the crowds to some wonderful “ stunting ” work. At 1 o’clock all the squadron were inthe stream. Then the Seattle berthed on the outer side of the huge Pipitea wharf alongside the Exhibition Buildings; at the same time the largest battleship, the Pennsylvannia, berimed on the inner side. Later in the afternoon the_ light cruiser Richmond was brought in and moored ahead of the Seattle. Great crowds of people watched the mooring, which was carried out expeditiously and without fuss or hitch of any kind. The afternoon was filled with official calls. The Guard of Honor was furnished by the 15th Battery, with the Artillery Band. The first call was made by Commodore Beale, representing the Royal Navy in New Zealand, after which Admiral Coontz visited the Go-vernor-General and the Prime Minister. Later the Governor-General visited Admiral Coontz aboard the Seattle, after which the Harbor Board and City Council made formal calls on the Admiral.