A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1925, Page 5

A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT

OF WELLINGTON ARRIVAL. WONDERFUL SPECTACLE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Ten ships of the Vuited States Combined Fleet, which has been visiting Australia, after its manoeuvres in the N )rth I’neifie, arrived at Wellington today, under the command cf Admiral Robert E. Coontz. The visit coulo not have been better timed from a meteorological standpoint. The weekend had been particularly wintry, and vestorday cold, biting. southerly squalls made the outlook most unpi >- uitious, so that even the Government Meteorologist, who usually is optimistic forbore to be more than hopeful f.i better weather to-day. The morning broke clear, though the light southerly air had a crispness to set the blood atingle, but a blue sky was overhead, iustead of the grey pall so much in evidence lately. As the morning ad vanned, the city assumed a holiday air. The buildings displayed a good deal of bunting, and the people congregated at all points of advantage around the harbour frontage, and even on the oeeuai bench from the Heads towards Islam' Bay, which, with its sister seaside sub urb of Lyall Bay, was aff<n\ d a fine spectacle as the squadron came up across Cock Strait and made for the harbour entrance. The ships in the harbour were dressed with bunting. For a space cf two or throe hours from about ten o’clock, business was largely suspended everywhere, so that most of the people had an opportunity < f seeing in movement the largest col lection of war craft that yet has visitm. this port. It was a brave sight the menu rv of which will live long. FLEET SHOWS UP.

As the time approached for the squadron’s arrival, harbour steamers, all thronged with sightseers, went down the harbour to the Heads. Latin ches and ynehts also carried quotas to welccm _■ the visitors. The squadron showed over the horizon about 10 a.m., smudges of smoke marking the line of ships. A little later a squadron of six seaplr.ms swept in, having been catapulted front their parent ships about 10 miles out. Suddenly as the flotilla of harbour ships were approaching Point Halswcll, whence the late Prime Minister's last resting place commands the view cf all who venture in through the capital city’s portals, these planes came sailing overhead like great birds. Made ber utiful by the s inlight glinting on their silvered fvs.lnges, the planes swept on, changing their formation feequently, circling u-rer the city and the harbour, and then returning seaward:; again to tl.e shi|N of war, us the big ships came through the heads. ENTRY \O HARBOUR. They entered promptly at 11.30, according tn the i.eheduie announced by Admiral Coontz, keeping time and sta tion, as all good navy ships are trained to do. First enmf the battleship Seattle, bearing Admiral Coontz’s flag. Then came the Pennsylvania, the Oklahoma, and th< Nevada, followed by the hospital ship Relief. Then came the light cruiser .division, the Richmond (leading), Marblehead, Memphis, and the Trenton. The supply ship Medusa was with t'.ios division.

Though’ i.omcthing like a swell came in at the Heads ,a legacy of the southerly storm so lately i« evidence) causing far crowded ferry steamers to curtsey to the waves, the big war cra’t moved along steadily, as if on the quiet waters of » lake. As they passed in, a big outgoing ship of peace, bnrni’ on her lawful mission of commerce, went out, and there was the usual interchange cf courtesies, each dipping it.’ ensign as the punctilio of the sea so gravely insists upon. As the-- tame abreast cf the forth, the interchanges were repeated, and against the warships passed the waiting, crowded stcameis, the same cere niony was observed. The ships’ bands also played martial tunes, and the people, especially the school children or, the steamer Duchess, cheered the vis: tors. Bright sunshis e flooded the harbour, yesterday's cloud banks being reduced now to fleecy wisps of vapour, ag linst which t'-c wheeling seaplanes steed out black one moment, to be turned the next instant into things of silvered beauty, a.i they soared into ihc sunlight. There was a light northerly that hr. I

a keen edge on it, from its passage < ver the Rimutaka ranges, heavily caaled with snow. Tb<- hills eastward o’’ the harbour also lore light mant'e-. if white in pl:> -es, so that, deepite th<: brilliant sunrsys, which si int’.llat :d on myriad waestops, the air .vas crisp enough to fiiake wraps acceptable to the sight’cerw. St. adil.r the line tnovfd up the hat-

bon,, round Point Jenuingiinr.i, i .to the stream . Thousands o' pe >pla line 1 the point and shores cf Oriental Bay, while al! ti-c high buiidings sc.’med sudilcnij lo have grown masses of cheering figures upon them. The planes still circled ab’ve, or moved along in ordered forma,ions, only to break into eccentric i.iover,.cnt again while <?ne treated the et-jw.D to some wind-. Hui “stunting” war]' t THE MOORING At one o’clock, all ti’c sipridron were in the stream. Th-?.-, the Seattle berthed on the outer s ; dc cf the huge Pipitea wharf, alongside th? TAhibitii n building. At the s-.me time, the largest battleship, the Penuysyl znni.i, berthed on the inner tide. Later, in the afternoon, the light cruiser Richmond was brought in, and r.i >ori:d ahead of the Seattle.

Great crowds of people watched th? mooring, which was carriel out ixpedi tiously, re. d without fuss or hitch cf any kind.

The afternoon was filled n'itb official calls. A guard of honour was furnish ed by the 15th Battery, v> -,th the Artillery Band. The firs' cal, 1 , was made by Commodore Beale, representing the Royal Navy if, Nrw Zealand, after which Admiral Coontz visited the Gover , r-General, the Prime Mi-iistor, and numbers of the Crown. Later, the Governor-General visited Admiral Covntz aboard the. Seattle, after whic-h the Harbour Board and City Cogm;ji •pud? fpwyj eu tbp