AMERICA’S ARMADA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 August 1925, Page 4

AMERICA’S ARMADA.

WELLIN'GTO-VS WELGOME. LEADERS GREET ADMIRAL. ' EMPIRE CITY FESTIVITIES. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In beautifully lino but cold weather, the squadron of the United States Fleet, under Admiral Coontz, steamed up to Wellington Heads this morning, entering promptly at 11.30, as advised yesterday by the Admiral. Th< city gave itself up to make a holiday for a brief space and large crowds lined the harbour shores at spots affording a good view of the procession up to the city. The ferry steamers carried large numbers of sightseers down to the heads and launches and yachts were in evidence. The squadron showed up over the horizon about 13.50 and cam L steadily on, the battleship Seattle, carrying Admiral Coontz’s flag leading, followed by Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Nevada and the hospital ship Relief. Then came Richmond at the head of the light cruiser division, the others being Trenton, Marblehead and Memphis, with a supply ship. Outside (he heads a squadron of six seaplanes left the ships and came up (he harbour in varying formations. They continued to perform various evolution's, including some “stunting" as (lie ships came steadily up the harbour. to the stream, which the last cruiser reached ,lust before ore o’clock. The squadron presented a flue spectacle as it came up the harbour in line. The sun shone out brightly in great contrast to the recent wild spell of weather. The great grey ships of war and the white painted hospital ship moved steadily on with hands playing, and there were occasional bursts of.cheering from the shore and the harbour steamers. When all the ships had readied ■ the stream the Seattle came to berth at King’s wharf, Pennsylvania and anotoer smaller ship sharing the berthage there, while the hospital ship went to Clyde Quay wharf. The rest .of the squadron took up anchorage in the stream. While they were doing this the seaplanes ceased (lying, and came down on the harbour and raced to their respective ships and were hoisted aboard. Commodore Beale, of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, then naid an official call on Admiral '"’oontz, after which Admiral Coontz '"sited the Governor-General, and afterwards visits were exchanged with the Government, the Harbour Board, and the City Council. A civic reception was accorded Admiral Coontz and his principal officers at the Town Hall, which was well filled. The proceedings were enthusiastic. The Mayor, Mr. Norwood, pre- i sided and on the patform were Com- S modore Beale, Major-General Mel- | vill, G.O.C. and Staff, the Prime [ Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), Mr. i H. E. Holland (Leader Labour Party), I Sir Joseph Ward, the Chief Justice ! (Sir Robert Stout) and members of ■the City Council The Mayor extended a warm welcome to the visitors on behalf of the citizens and referred to the grateful memories held by the New Zealanders for assistance rendered as long ago as | 1845, when during - the Maori troubles in the North, the Koro Karoka settlement where Russell now stood, was destroyed, and the American warship St. Louis rescued the wounded troops, with women and children. . Mr. Coates was accorded a warm reception on this his first appearance at a public gathering in Wellington and bade the visitors the heartiest welcome in the name of the people of New Zealand. He assured them they would find themselves among friends Americans not long ago were helping the British weople in time of trouble. He himself had served with Americans at the front and had learned to know them.: Now they would have an opportunity 7 of geetting, to know us to a develop the same friendship that had been formed between the Americans and New Zealanders in France. The Now Zealanders appreciated many acts of friendship' our men had received at the hands of the people of the U.S.A. a few years ago. The Mayor read an apology from Air, T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition. who was unable to attend through indisposition, but added an expression of welcome to the visitors Sir Robert Stout, in a brief speech, said the American and British nations both cherished the same ideals to preserve civilisation, which could only be accomplished by nnintaining peace. Canada and the U.S.A. lived in peace without armed forces. Why. he asked, could not the nations of Europe do the same? In conclusion, he welcomed the'visitors as typifying a national force bent on the maintenance of peace in the world. Mr. Holland, in endorsing Sir Robert Stout’s remarks,. welcomed Admiral Coontz and his officers because he believed that the day was fast coming when tht British and American nations would be engaged in a movement to join all the peoples in one great union for peace and goodwill, which was the aim of the Labour parties of all the world. Admit - \. Coontz, on rising to respond. " greeted with applause. He said his men had been spoken of as ambassadors of peace. He could assure liis hearers- that those 250.0 men would prove to be ambassadors who would make known these southern lands and the friendliness of the people therein to their own people- when they returned home. Many were malting” their first trip abroad. They were intelligent and took an interest in what they saw and would take away a right impression of New Zealand People in America sometimes looked at the map and thought Now’ Zealand was a long - way off. It, was so in the day of the sailing ships, but that was altered now with improved communications. New Zealand had wonderful opportunities. They could study history, and note the mistakes made by older countries and so build up their nation that it would avoid making similar mistakes. “Wo. are a peaceful nation,” said Admiral Coontz, "but we believe in peace w ith honour.” Americans believed in visiting other countries. By so doing they discovered other people were not so very different from themselves am! that a better understanding of each other would lead the nations into ways of peace. Ho thanked those present for the warm welcome accorded him and his men who would all carry 1 away with them pleasantest memories of their sojourn in these waters. The .Government buildings, Town Hall and public buildings wore beautifully illuminated. The programme for this evening was as under: 5 p.ur civic reception at the Town Hall; 7 o’clock, Government House dinner to Admiral Coontz and principal officers S o’clock, Oddfellows’ welcome to the American Lodge in the concert chamber; 8 o’clock, a private dance. To-morrow at .10 a.m. will begin a ceremonial march through the city, at 1 p.m. a Government luncheon to Admiral Coontz and the principal officers in the Town Hall; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., reception to the matron and nurses of the Fleet by the Trained, Nurses’ Association at the Club, j Kensington street; 7 o’clock, club-, 1 room and dance at the ’town Hall; S o’clock, Evans' Bay Yacht Club ' dance for 50 men; the American Con. su'-General’s reception to Admit al

Coontz and principal officers; ball to twenty-five officers by the Mayor, Councillors and citizens of Lowci Hutt, and a private dance to twentylive officers.