U.S. FLEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 5

U.S. FLEET

JOURNEY TO AUSTRALIA LI IT. ON THE WARSHIPS (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Hu,,*..& fti.z. Cable Asßoemtion., By radio from tho battleship Seattle. Special representative ot Australia Press Association. (Delaved.) Julv 5.

The first Sunday of the cruise was quietly celebrated, slops carrying chap In ins having services, the day being a holiday. This makes three In-lidavs over tin' weekend, the other two being Fourth of July and crossing the line. Do Fridav an officer aboard the Ludlow became suddenly ill with acute appendicitis. Tli.-re was no surgeon on the lies! rover so the hospital ship relief was asked’ to stand by. The choppy sea was too great for the destroyers boat, but the relief's ambulance successiully transferred the officer for an immediate, operation. ’This thrilling incident speaks highly for the naval medical efficiency and seamanship. It is interesting to note the vigor and agilitv of the command under the chief and Ins chief of staff in sports. Despite their years Admiral Count/, (61) and Admiral Colo (57) hold their own with younger men in deck games, especially tennis. Admiral Cole attiibutes his fit ness, to the lifelong practice of physical exercise, particularly half tut hour of calisthenics every morning. Julv 6.

A little incident of peculiar interest occurred during Neptune ceremonies on the Seattle. The ship's doctor. Reynolds Sayman, a middle-aged man, was the first to he initiated. The doctor received vigorous punishment and came out of the lank winded, but turned to leap back and pulled out a young lieu tenant who bad fainted from shock upon being catapulted from the chair of torture into the water. The doctor carried the lieutenant to the sick hay where he quickly revived. Six seaplanes catapulted from light cruisers to-day for a practice flight, and taking battle formation repeatedly circled round the fleet and landed on the water, the seas being smooth, and were then hoisted aboard bv derricks. ’ Julv 7.

The clese blood relationship between the people of Australia and the United States is indicated in an old will in possession of Captain William .Merritt. supply corps, aboard tlie Seattle, which be is bringing with him. It ap pears that Dr. William Balmain, surgeon in the Royal Navy, came to Australia in the eighteenth century and oh tainod grants of 1245 acres in a suburb of Sydney. Members of his family cmi. grated to America, one of them serving on General Washington’s staff. Balmain was a great-grand uncle of Capt. Merritt’s wife, and this will would make her heir to his property, hut Captain Merritt points out that such rights have long since expired and this will and a picture of Balmain which lie has with him are really only eloquent evidence of a true liason of feeling be--ween the two countries.

Lieut. Williams issued the following statement concerning the rifle, team which will compete at Melbourne and probably Sydney. The l nited States llect ritie team being a composite one selected from all ships in the fleet, is now quartered on the Pennsylvania. The team was selected through eliminations at 300 yards on small hulls eye designed to tes! each man's marmansliip and steadiness. Two weeks additional time were then devoted to training tlie sound at 500 and 600 yards, thus teaching them shooting judgment. The fleet was engaged in extensive manoeuvres to-day. various vessels falling out- of formation and drawing up closer to the Seattle, making- possible a fairly close inspection of virtually all units of the fleet. It was an impressive sight under brilliant sun and pleasant seas. The cruiser Omaha ami the Seattle were engaged in gun pointing pra etiee. Tlu' fleet, despite slow speed, 'lias been getting ahead of schedule nod in order to avoid arrival at Paga before dawn an order was issued reducing the rate from 11 to 9J, knots. Julv 8.

Admiral Uoontz and staff received an invitation to a farewell dinner from Captain 11. F. Bryan. Governor of American Samoa, the evening before the departure from the last outpost of American territory en route to Australia.

A song of greeting from the United States fleet to Australia lias been written by C. Boiler, leader of the Admiral’s orchestra, and Lieutenant Shetley and 'has already gained considerable popularity throughout the licet. The first verse is as follows : In nineteen eight the Yankee fleet. Made a cruise around the world. She went to ports of wide renown And had a merry whirl. But one place holds our memory, On this we all agree. A’on can’t beat old Australia For hospitality. Chorus. Fair Australia we’re for you. We re for New Zealand too. Once again were glad to be. Shaking hands ’cross the western sea. Eagle and kangaroo Will stand together through and through. United States Navy and her boys in blue, Sing Australia’s hearts to you. Tlie song is entitled "Australia, we're for you.”

Lieulrn.--.ut Shelly, fleet athletic officer and an American member of the grand licet athletic commission during the war, estimated that more than a thousand athletes from the fleet will be ready to participate in competitions with Australians and Now Zealanders. These include 525 baseball players. 100 boxers. ICO wrestlers, 50 track, £0 swimmers, 27 rifle. With the exception of baseball it- is not yet possible to arrange an exhibition between the Australians and Americans. No association football will be played a:j the game is unknown anil there is only one soccer team. The fleet takes special pride in ils boxers, particularly Richie King of the Maryland. The navy boxers are all trained for six round bouts, two minute rounds, with an extra three minutes in the event of a draw. Julv S.

We ran into heavy rain and squalls yesterday afternoon, but before evening the ships faced a clearing horizon and the sun set in and the sky was flecked with many tints. Since leaving Hoiiolttl this, was tlic first unpleasant weather. The days hitherto have been brilliant and hot. The rain postponed all deck sports and boxing matches which had been scheduled after lunch. The ships, despite the rain, carried out a lengthy programme of manoeuvres. We are now passing around the eastern end of Tutuila and are scheduled to arrive at the harbour entrance at six to-mor-row morning. The battleships and cruisers were engaged in guiipointing di ills this morning.

July 10. The fleet arrived at Ragopago on schedule time The Seattle and California entered the harbour. The full fleet leaves at six to-morrow morning.

Admirals Count/, and Cole went ashore for breakfast with the Governor anil Australian representatives. Lieutenants MacDonald and Farneomb. of the British Navy, conferred with Admirals Count/, and Cole. Robinson and other members of the staff this morning, wnen an entertainment programme was presented but only brieliy discussed. ■Satisfaction was expressed that the vessels of the Melbourne division will all have dockage and the battleship California \v7il birth at the pier in •Sydney. The Admirals were tlie guests ot honour at a great competitive nance, which brought out chieftains, tribesmen and tribeswoman of five Samoan island.-II l I'der blazing sun they danced throughout the afternoon. Speeches of welcome were made Kuva was drunk and Admiral Count/, briollv expressed thanks. Julv 12.

Our high frequency radio expert Lieutenant- Sclmell last night exchanged messages with CeitJl .Bernard, an amateur at Hilcun, Chile, 5400 miles. Mr Bernaml reported an excellent reception of the Seattle’s signal.

The .Seattle before leaving Honolulu received a letter from Johannesburg, South Africa, from an amateur who reported hearing the Seattle 11,000 miles. While the Chile communication is not a record it is a considerable performance since it was a two-way communication. Tt is. moreover an indication of the importance of the work being done by amateurs with high frequency thirty-nine metro wave, length which was used. Julv 13.

Final details are being wujked out-to-day for the arrival of the- fleet divisions at Sydney and -Melbourne. Ibo California and Seattle will lead lb or respective divisions. The formation lor entering the ports is not yet determined. The Melbourne division will arrive off Port Philips' beads at ten in the morning and the Sydney division off the harbour at eleven in the morning. The Seattle and California will break the British Ensign at the main and the former will lire a 21 gun salute off the saluting fort, probably Port Gellibrund. Williamstown. and the latter off the. South heads. Some confusion has arisen concerning the sailors' shore liberty. It was first, believed that liberty in both Sydney and Melbourne would lie restricted, due to the limited facilities in both cities to the care for bluejackets, but it now appears that this will affect only Svilnev.