THE GREY RIVER ARGUS WEDNESDAY, August 12th, 1925. THE AMERICAN VISITORS.

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1925, Page 4

THE GREY RIVER ARGUS WEDNESDAY, August 12th, 1925. THE AMERICAN VISITORS.

It is obvious that the social side of the visit of the American Fleet has in the eyes of the public of New Zealand also wholly obscured its political, nob Io say militafy, significance. In that respect, the visitors enlist general interest. These Domiiiioi'.s are becoming steadily, but surely, Americanised, Australia especially, and there is little or nothing racially hicongrous in the presence in our territorial waters of this foreign fleet far larger than tiny British naval s<|'iadri>n ever appearing' here. Primarily the Americans say the cruise serves to illustrate our closer relations each year with America, where the universality of the English language is a stronger cementing factor than anything else conceivable of that nature. We get our pictures, many of our magazines an 1 books, and also of our motor vehicles from the United States, which w<? em. nlute algo in our devotjon tp th<? sport pf UvtUpg. Nu tvvbiier Ul>- guui}-

ing their navy to identify the Dominions with them more closely. It is satisfactory to note the men of the Fleet enjoy excellent working conditions, the best of food, and compart-

lively good pay for navals. Act they j are not seafaring men for the most | part. The British and Japanese navals in this respect are their superiors. The Americans say, however, it is not seafaring men they want i.i their Fleet, as the modern warship is only a floating fortress. The American bluejackets are youthful, and are out to see as much of the world as possible. Thev are Americans born almost to a man. Certaiily their ancestry' is mixed, since for a century French, Germans, Poles, Italians, Russians, and ma iv other nationalities have flowed m millions from Europe to America; but the Fieet ’personnel is American, hence cosmopolitan in sentiment, the only si.lister aspect of the cruise being its relation to the colour problem. Fleets are not the solution. The American seamen have a four year engagement, which passes quickly enough, with the days well divided up between exercises, physical drill, study (including a course of general education), sport, concerts, and cinema performI antes. The Fleet is at present in New I Zealand because it was specially invited, as it had been originally' intended to go only to Australia. Later on there is to be a European cruise, so that the average seaman is warranted in anticipating that the service v, ill enable him at least to learn a lot about the world in general. Some pf

them are sturying agriculture in the Dominions, and others are learning of trade opportunity s. They are ns a whole scarcely' any more strangers to the Dominion peoples than the personnel of the British Navy, and certainly do not appear in the guise of foreigners. They’ will doubtless carry away a good impression of this country, and it is to be hoped that, despite the militaristic circumstances, they will regard the cruise as a means to th? promotion of peaceful intercourse, rather than as the prelude to an eventual Pacific war. Cerftainly, among the general public, as already remarked, the cordial welcome extended has nothing to do with the idea of war, much less with a wish to bring about war. It is to be hoped, therefore, that nothing will be done by' individuals to misrepresent the facts later, when interests of an imperialistic character may create a war atmosphere. From wi advertising point of view, it seems that a chance lias been missed to bring the West Coast and its magnificent scenery under notice of the Americans, the'local bodies and the Tourist Department having both been at fault :.i this respect. The scenery of the Coast is calculated to impress the visitors more favourably than that of many other parts of the country, but the public apathy has resulted in what must be considered a loss to the Coast in more ways than one,