BOYCOTT OF FLEET

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10065, 1 August 1925, Page 5

BOYCOTT OF FLEET

ALLEGED ATTACKS ON A!EX

SENSATIONAL ARTICLES IN AMERICAN PRESS.

DENIALS BY OFFICERS AND AUSTRALIANS.

“ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT FOUNDATION.”

(UNITED ?RESB ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.)

(Received July 31. 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Jiny 31

A story published by the Associated Press of America states there have been many assau'.ts on American sailors in Australia, and an attempt was made to boycott, the fleet. Congressman MeClintick who is accompanying the fleet,' sent a message to President Ooolidge, saying that the statements that sailors were being attacked and the .fleet boycotted! were absolutely without foundation. As the result of special inquiries lie had made he could not bear of a sing.e occurrence to which the word of attack or boycott could ho applied. He concluded, “The whole ot Australia has g.ven us a most wonderfully sincere welcome.” Admiral Coontz said he had heard nothing of the fleet being boycotted. Men were being taken to the homes of citizens, and were having a firstclass good time in a very excellent manner.

Mr. Bruce, Federal Premier, expressed the regret of the Federal Government at misleading statements being published in Amer.ea. He said be had been in two States and had. seen for himself the warmth of the greeting extended everywhere to the liet. As far as he knew there had not been a single regrettable incident. Mr. Connors, the representative with the fleet of the Associated Press of America., stated he thought the statement referred to him. He denied bis dispatches had been of an alarmist order. The references to ]>oyeott related to earlier threats of the Extremists to boycott the fleet. He maintained that messages regarding the attacks on sailors were borne out by Sydney newspaper reports. Mr. Rothman, correspondent of the New York Times, said his despatches never mentioned anything of the nature complained of.

Admiral Robison, interviewed in Sydney regarding the above, said that so far as he gathered his men were very pleased with their reception. He regarded the m : nor disturbances which had occurred as being rare of occasion and negligible in a degree.

DEATH OF AMERICAN SAILOR

FOUND BADLY HURT ON THE OMAHA.

(Received Julv 31, 9.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 31. An American sailor, whose name is not disclosed, was found badly injured aboard the warship Omaha and later died on board. Until enquiries are completed no further statements will he made.

QUIET DAY AT SYDNEY

(Received July 31. 10.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Julv 31

The fleet had a quiet, day, mostly taken up With social engagements ashore.

SEAPLANE COMES TO GRIEF

CREW RESCUED

(Received Julv 31, 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 31. One of the seaplanees attached to the Pennsylvania, in attempting \o execute a, loop, dived two hundred teet into the sea and sank. The crew vas rescued.

OLDEST SHIP IN FLEET

SEATTLE’S NINETEENTH BIRTH

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.}

MELBOURNE, July 31. The flagship of the American fleet. the Seattle, celebrated its nineteenth birthday yesterday. It- is the oldest ship with the fleet. Admiral Coontz explained it would have considerably weakened the Atlantic fleet had one or more up-to-date capital ships been requisitioned for service as flagship for the tour.

Tlie Governor-General. Lord Foster, entertained a thousand men of the lower ranks of the fleet at tea at tlie Federal Government House.

DEPARTURE FOR NEW ZEALAND

SYDNEY DIVISION LEAVES OX

THURSDAY

(UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

SYDNEY, July 31. Hie fleet will leave Sydney at nine o’clock on Thursday morning.