A DAY TOO EARLY

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1925, Page 5

A DAY TOO EARLY

AMERICAN FLEET Coonty,s Ships Show up in South. A SQUADRON AT DUNEDIN. [Per United Press Association.] DUNEDIN, August 10. The American Fleet section under Admiral Coontz, from Melbourne, nr rived In New Zealand waters twenty lour hours ahead of the scheduled time. Twelve destroyers and three others vessels of the American Fleet arrived oft' Tairoa Heads nt 7 o'clock this morning, necessitating rearrangement of the programme. At tl.dd this morning, lights appeared on the horizon to the south and the line of the Fleet heading north v.n quickly apparent. The line for the north east, consisting of the larger vessels, kept on. The destroyers for Dunedin fell out and steamed for the Hoads. Pilots were waiving for them, and at 7,30, the flagship Melville passed in. The other vessels followed at about fifteen m.n ute intervals, and at 10.15, the last vessß-l passed in without the slightest hitzh or delay. The heat J’ sea nt the IIA-nds had moderated. The Admiral was informed beforehand that the Fleet's arrival had been timed for Tuesday inoriing, and when he learned of the difficulty as to the nrriingt m«nit*. lie kindly offered to roliuiin off the heads, but. in view of the heave SOas outside, it was thought bet ter thaft the ships berth, and a final radio *ient last night read: “Harbourmaster pilots nt Tairoa Heads nt 7 o’clock Monday. Bring all vessels to Dirfiedia wharves. Unfortunately this will militate against a fitting welcome dnring arrival.” The arrangements had included the presence of two thousand children on the wharves and many other features to assure fittingly a warm welcome. Only official calls will constitute today ’s programme. Last Tuesday the Mayor was officially notified that the contingent could not arrive before Tuesday morning. Nothing further wns heard, and on Saturday, the Harbour Board, through the American Consular representative, w ireleased , the flagship Melville that the arrangements were complete for Tuesday, receiving the disconcerting news of tho earlier arrival. ARRIVAL AT B ELLINGTON TODAY.

WELLINGTON. August 10. Tho I'.uler-Secretary of Internal Affairs received the following wireless last evening from the flagship of the United States Fleet: ‘‘Admiral Coontz plans to load the Fleet into Port Nicholson ut 11.30 on Tuesday morning.’’

DUNEDIN'S WELCOME. 13 SHIPS BERTH. DUNEDIN, August 10. Though Dunedin's welcome to the American Fleet was arranged for tomorrow, thousands of people crowded the wharves to-day. The vessels berthed promptly. The vessels here consist of the large tender “Melville” (Rear-Admiral Marvel', 12 destroyers, and two mine-lay-ui-w. Their total complement is two thousand meu. The Melville berthed at ‘.'.20 u.m., followed by the first destroyer seventy minutes later. The Tramways Band struck up s .Welcome, and cheering, and the .waving of American flags were very much in evidence, At ten o’clock, the Mayor nnd party boarded the Melville to the singing 01 “The Star Spangled Banner” by the V.diversity girls. Large parties of school children to-day visited the ships.

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON, HAD WEATHER ON F.AsT (.'OAST. WELLINGTON, August 10. The weather to-day is showery nnd cold, but the Government Meteorologist, while doubtful ns to the prospects lor to-morrow, thinks there muy be an improvement by midday, so that the arrival aud berthing of tho American warships may be carried out under la-tter weather conditio.is than prevail to day. A serious cyclonic disturbance off the East Coast of the .South island, however, makes forecasting difficult in the absence of information from the westward.

SUNKEN SEAPLANE RECOVERED. SYDNEY, August 10. Tho seaplane from the T’niteil States battleship Pennsylvania, which crashed into water on July 31st, has been located and raised by some local yachtsmen. It is in fairly good condition, except for the wings. The question of the legal ow-.iorship has yet to be decided, but it is thought that it is still the property of th e I’ennsylvania.

AMERICAN SA.JLOE DUPED. POLISHED HALFPENNY TRICK. CROWD CHASES OFFENDER. A contemptible trick was practised upon an American sailor on tile night of the arrival of the warships at Sydney by a confidence man in George street. A crowd of people, bccomi ig aware of the oecuneiiec, set- upon the offender. Ibe trickstei approached the ?vmo.ii:in sailor, and after talking with him for a little time, asked him whether he was having trouble in understanding Australian coinage. The sailor admitted that he had not quite mastered the values, and pulled a gold five-dollur piece from his pocket, saying that he knew, it was worth a little more or less, than a sovereign, he was not quite sure which, ~ he sailor's newly-made aeuaiutiinee thereupon insured him that it was

worth a little less than a sovereign. “But,” he added, “I will give you a sovereign for it; I would like it no a souvenir,” at the same time extracting a halfpenny, which he had evidently polished up. from lus pocket. The e?ihange was made, the sailor being unaware of the mean trick being played on him.

A mau standing nearby had see.r the transaction, and, enlisting the aid of u couple of bystanders, asked the sailor to show the coin he had revciy e.d. As he produced the shining halfpenny the trickster made an effort to escape, and immediately he was set upon/'i he sailor stood mystified, until he was later told of th 0 significance of the happening. After he had been pummelled by his irate attackers, tho man managed to wre.ie.h himself free, and was soon lost to sight in the crowd, although 20 or <JO men were close upon his heels with the view of handing him .over to the police.