THE JAPANESE WARSHIPS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1906, Page 3

THE JAPANESE WARSHIPS.

THE OFFICERS 13ANQUETTED. WARM SENTIMENTS OF ESTEEM AND REGARD. [bt electhu: txt/ecrapu—copvukiiit. • [pi:n rcr.ss association*]. SYDNEY, This Day. The Japanese Admiral and officers were entertained by the Lord Mayor at a dinner in the Town Hall lasl night. There was a brilliant gathering, which included Lord N'orthcote (Governor-General), Sir Harry Hawson (Governor), and Admiral Fawkes. Lord Northcoto said he was convinced that neither Britain nor Japan would have contracted an alliance if (hey had not honestly and sincerely believed that in forming such an alliance they were giving (he world a strict guarantee of future peace and commercial development. lie trusted (hey had united the white ensign with the banner of the Rising Sun of Japan in an alliance that would prove indissoluble.

Sir George Reid, in submitting the toast of Admiral Shimaru, paid a tribute to Japan's achievements. Shimaru, replying, hoped the alliance would be renewed again and again, not for aggressive purposes, but as a safeguard of peace. He declared the Japanese successes at sea were largely due to fact that most of the warships were built in Britain, and commanded and officered by men who had learned the profession from the British navy. Sir Harry Rawson and Admiral Fawkes, in their speeches, welcomed the visit of the squadron and the An-glo-Japanese) alliance.