THE AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13699, 16 March 1908, Page 4

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

It is officially announced that the American Fleet under Admiral Evans, in response to an invitation from Mr. Deakin, the Premier of the Australian Commonwealth, will visit both Melbourne and Sydney on its way to" the Philippine Islands. We do not know whether Sir Joseph Ward has approached the American authorities with the object of securing a visit , from the fleet to New Zealand waters, but we trust that 110 efforts will be spared to induce the United States Government to consent to such a course. Moreover, we believe that if proper representations were made at Washington, the response would not be unfavourable. The Fleet will have to pass close to Auckland on its way from Samoa to Australia, so that comparatively little inconvenience or delay would be involved in touching at this port, which for so many years was the port of arrival and departure for the San Francisco mail steamers. Apart from the close and friendly relations that have always existed between the people of the Dominion and their kinsfolk across the Pacific, and their growing commercial intercourse, the visit of the Fleet would be singularly appropriate, inasmuch as New Zealand is the nearest to the American seaboard of the great British possessions in this quarter of the globe, and is probably the one that has excited the keenest interest among the American people. President Roosevelt himself has on more than one occasion given expression to the warm regard which he entertains for New Zealand, and to the deep interest which he takes in our affairs. There is every reason, therefore, for anticipating a cordial reception of an invitation from the New Zealand Government to the American Fleet to visit our country, and we would strongly urge on the Prime Minister the desirableness of using every means in his power to secure for the Dominion so gratifying a distinction.