AMERICAN FLEET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 November 1924, Page 5

AMERICAN FLEET.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. ARRIVAL NEXT JULY. DETAILED ITINERARY. WASHINGTON, Nov. 22. Mr Curtis Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy’, to-day made a statement dealing with the fleet’s visit to Australia and New Zealand, and for the first time published the full tentative schedule of the vessels composing the fleets and a detailed itinerary. Mr Wilbur said, that after the winter manoeuvres in the Pacific of the combined fleets of the United States have been completed, it is proposed to send a squadron on a visit of courtesy to New Zealand and Australia. “This will be the first time since 1908 that our fleet has visited these Dominions, and the first time for many years that an American fleet has made so extended a cruise. The experience that will be gained during such a cruise will be inestimable. The visit will also renew our acquaintance with the people of the Dominions and extend them the courtesy their friendship inspires.”. The fleet will be engaged in tactics while en route to Pago Pago during the week July 1 to 10. -From Pago Pago the battleship division, each accompanied by a division of destroyers from Destroyer Squadron 12, and the light cruisers and Destroyer Squadron 11, will sail for the following ports: July 10 to 16—Battleship Division. 3 en route to Auckland. July 10 to 17—Battleship Division 4 en route to Wellington. July 1 Oto 19—Battleship Division 5 en route to Sydney. July 10 to 21—Destroyer Squadron 11 en, route to Melbourne. July 16 to 31—Battleship Division 3 will be at Auckland. July 17 to 31—Battleship Division 4 will be at Wellington. July 19 to August 4—Battleship Division 5 will be at Sydney. July 21 to August 4—Destroyer Squadron 11 will be at Melbourne. July 31 to August s—Battleship Division 3 will be en route to Sydney. July 21 to August 6—Battleship Division 4 will be en routs to Melbourne. August 4 to 9—Battleship Division 5 will be en route to Wellington. August 4 to 9—Destroyer Squadron 11 will be en route to Aiickland. From August 5 to 20, Battleship Division will be at Sydney; from August 6 to 20, Battleship Division 4 will be at Melbourne; from August 9 to 23, Battleship Division 5 will be at Wellington; from August 9 to 25, the Destroyer Squadron 11 will be at Auckland ; from August 20 to 25, Battleship Division 3 will be en route to Auckland ; from August 20 to 25, Battleship Division 3 will be en route to Auckland; and from August 20 to 25. Battleship Division 5 will be en route to Auckland. From August 25 to September 1 the vessels will be en route to Pago Pago; from September 1 to 10, en route to Honolulu; from September 10 to 20 at Honolulu; from September: 20 to 28, en route to San Pedro. One light cruiser will visit each of the four ports. The fleet’s personnel will total approximately 37,000 men. . WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Mr Meagher, ex-Lord Mayor of Sydney, who is a passenger by the Tahiti, which arrived here to-day, obtained some information from Admiral Robertson at Honolulu regarding the visit of the American _ Fleet, which does not entirely tally with the details cabled from Washington. Mr Meagher was given to understand that the number of men would be about 18,400, of whom 15,600 would visit Auckland and Sydney, and about 2500 _ Wellington and Melbourne. A hospital ship and some oil-tankers will accompany the fleet.