U.S.A. FLEET

Grey River Argus, 29 July 1925, Page 5

U.S.A. FLEET

COONTZ GRATEFUL

FOR GREAT WELCOME. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) MELBOVRNE, July 28, Admiral Coontz, in a statement, said that the welcome had been ncyond all expectations, l-.veryt liing was so well conceived in the way <-) entertainments, that all the members of the Fleet were delighted. The hospitality they met showed the uneu.uivoral friendship of Australia towards the United States, and they tlianxed Australia for it. MELBOURNE DISI’I AV. MELBOVRNE July 28 The Fleet repeated the searchlight display on Sunday night, although there was no mention of it in tne official programme.. Over a hundred thousand visited th e ships on Sunday afternoon, and in the crush to get aboard there were thirty-five minor accidents. The men were entertained to-day r-t picnics, motor excursions, baseball and dancing. MOVIE THEA IRE INCIDENT. MELBOURNE, July 27. As the Capitol picture Theatre was filling for the afternoon's performance the screen caittglit fire, :nd was immediately a mass of flame. Iwo stage hands behind the screen had to run through the flames. Both ,ere seriously burned, and were sent to the hospital. American sailors hi lped in quelling the outbreak, and the audience left without a panic. SYDNEY’ MAYOR'S BALL. SYDNEY, July 28. The Lord Mayor tendered the Admiral and officers of the Fleet a >r.li at the Town Ha.ll. There was a large numbers of guests and the function was successfully carried through. After the first hectic rush, the members of the Fleet are beginning to visit the suburbs. Many private families are now entertaining the men at their homes. A number ot similar offers were received ficin country homesteads. SAILORS PREFER SYDNEY. SYDNEY, July 28. Few American sailors are taking advantage of the offers to visit country towns At Goulburn the streets were L-e--decked and large crowds turned out to welcome fifty visitors, but only two arrived. Other towns had similar experiences. NO LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY PLACES. AfET.BOL'RNE July ‘-’B. A partv of officers and me.i of the American Fleet were taken by special train to Ballarat, where they were entertained by the Mayor and citizens. Another excursion, on a large scale, proved a fiasco. Arrangements had bee.i made by the Field Naturalists Society to take a party to the neighbouring hills to gather wild flowers. The naturalists were to have met the sailors in the city, but the latter failed to keep the appointment.