AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13798, 10 July 1908, Page 5

AMERICAN FLEET.

THE VISIT. TO JAPAN.

BIG NAVAL DEMONSTRATION. By Telegraph.—Press Aaiociation.— Tokio, July P. A remarkable welcome to the American fleet is being planned in Yokohama. A naval . demonstration will be held, the Japanese navy greeting the visiting battleships.

armoured warships and many smaller craft will participate. AUCKLAND PREPARATIONS. GROWING' ENTHUSIASM. Some surprise was occasioned in Auckland yesterday that the cabled information of the fleet's departure from San Francisco should have bean received by the press before the official despatch anticipated by the American Consul-General. The latter message was expected some days ago, but up to a late hour last evening had not come to hand. The assumption is that Admiral Sperry deemed it advisable to defer it till the fleet was actually on its way, and delegated instructions to this effect to the Department of State at San Francisco.

It is assumed that the auxiliary vessels mentioned in the cabfc> are some of the supply ships, which are coming ahead to replenish their supplies at Auckland, to be ready for the fleet's arrival. , Every day sees the enthusiasm growing in conection with the visit of the fleet. NO COAL REQUIRED. The American Consul-Genoral, Mr. W. A. Prickitt, received official communications by the American mail regarding inquiries made as to the possibility of the fleet requiring coal and provisions while at Auckland. The Navy Department states that it is not likely that any coal will be purchased by the fleet while in New Zealand, as the Department contemplates sending the necessary quantity in chartered colliers. The supply ships will accompany the fleet, and provisions in large quantities will not be required en route. Mr. Prickitt's letter, however, was forwarded to Admiral Sperry for his information. EXECUTIVE ARRANGEMENTS. The executive met again yesterday afternoon, and transacted a considerable amount .of business, the most of which was of a detail nature. Proposals for the illumination of the tower of Victoria Arcade and the face of the Quay-street building which is to be used for the men's bureau were, considered, and will probably be carried out 1 if the requisite electric power can be obtained. The illumination for the Quaystreet building will take the form of an electric map of the Dominion, Bft in diameter, an.* two huge stars. he executive has arranged to secure an extra supply of greenery, fernr ; etc., and these will be delivered at a uniform moderate price to the business people requiring 'hem. Ttrk phase of the decorations will be under the control of a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Leyland, Casey, and Court. A PECULIAR REQUEST. Practically the same , deputation that waited on the district health officer on Wednesday, on health matters pertaining to the visit of the fleet, interviewed the Mayor yesterday on the same subjects, with the addendum of a remarkable request for the restoration of the curfew bell during Fleet Week. Mr. Myers promptly declined to resurrect this long-buried device of the Middle Ages for making people keep early hours, and he also said it was\ not possible to comply with the other wish I of the deputation. i

FLEET ENTHUSIASTS. The Government Comnueeioners are kept going from early to late with the multitudinous duties thai fall on their shoulders in arranging the Government details of the programme. Their task is rendered the harder by the shoals oi gratuitous suggestions that come to hand daily from all quarters, -nany of which would easily land the Government in an outlay of millions. Many of the writers and callers have an exaggerated, idea of the importance that should be attached to their visit to Auckland. For instance, there is the gentleman who wants a " family front seat for everything." Several hundreds of these individuals liave called on the Commissioners already. " They give the names, ages, weights, and colours of their relatives— also the family pedigree. They are disposed of diplomatically by a cordial ehak*? of the hand and an assurance that their modest requests will be "kept steadily in view." One portly gentleman telegraphed from a bacK blocks town: "Keep room for me everywhere." THE DEMAND FOP CABS. Cabs will be much in demand during Fleet Week, and it is stated that there is to be am importation of "growlers" from other parte of the Dominion. Neither the executive nor the Commissioners have received any information on this head, so it is probably "fleet rumour." It is pretty certain, though, that vehicular accommodation will be scarce during Fleet Week, as the Commissioners have commandeered a dozen vehicles for Government requirements, and the executive have also retained a number. DECORATIONS AT ROTORUA. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Rotoiiua, Thursday. The town will be lavishly decorated with flags on the occasion of the visit of the officers of the American fleet. ENTERTAINING THE MEN. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL CORRKSI'ONDENT.J Wellington,. Thursday. Mr. Poland gave notice to-day to ask the Prime Minister if provision is being made by the Government Commissioners appointed in connection with the visit of the American fleet, "for the expenditure of at least 75 per cent, of the Government money in entertaining the men and non-commissioned officers of the fleet, as these form by far the greater part of the force." MONEY THAT WILL BE SPENTMORE THAN £100,000 IN. THE WEEK. "Every man of the fleet will spend an average of 15 dollars during the stay in Auckland," remarked a gentleman who knows the habits of the American man-o'. warsman well to a Herald reporter yes-

terday. "The American sailor, as a rule, does not spend his money foolishly, but he likes to buy anything that strikes his fancy -when away from home, as a memento of his visit to another country."

"Fifteen dollar's a week is £3, and £3 each for 13,000 men is £39,000," continued the speaker; " even if they spend a little less, the amount with the expenditure of the officers added, will easily total £10,000. Then there is the Australian squadron. They won't spend so much, because they are nearer homeput it down at £1000. That's £41,000. Then there are the rest of the visitors who will be in Auckland at fleet time. Mr. Donne estimates 20,000, which I think is well within the mark. But it must be remembered that about half thic number will be in Auckland only for a couple of days—from the Saturday to the Monday. Their spending capacity will be easily 10a a day—that's another £10,000. Hotel and boardinghouse expenses will run into a similar sum—that makes £20,000. The other 10,000, who will stay for the whole of the fleet celebrations, will discharge hotel and boardinghouse bills to the tune of some £30,000, and in addition will spend 5s a day each in sightseeing and purchases. That's £15,000 — ta1£45,000. Reckoning on this modest computation, it means that more than £100,000 will be spent in Auckland during Fleet Week.

Quite apart from this gentleman's estimate, it need hardly be pointed out that there will be a large sum of money expended in rail, steamer, and tram fares by the visitors coming to Auckland. The Government will also spend £10,000, and the oxpenuiture of the City Council, the Harbour Board, and other amounts subscribed by the citizens, will probably reach another £5000.

'FRISCO'S WELCOME. WONDERFUL ILLUMINATIONS. The officers of the steamer Yeddo, which has just arrived in Auckland from San Francisco, speak most enthusiastically of the illuminations which were arranged for the visit of the American fleet tc 'Frisco. "They were magnificent," said one of the officers to a representative of the Herald yesterday. "We were lying in the harbour at San Francisco, and witnessed the arrival qi the armada and the welcome which it received from the town, which gave itself up to holiday-making for the occasion. The fleet arrived outside the heads at night, and anchored. At noon next day the fleet proceeded in single file through the Golden Gate, the vast fabrics of steel coming into view one by one. The whole length of the waterfront was one mass of people, and every ship in the harbour was crowded with sightseers. In the course of a couple of hours the most wonderful naval pageant was unfolded to the gaze of the thousands of spectators. Big. contingents of men from every ship came ashore to receive the civic welcome, the bluejackets parading through the streets. The triumph of the procession was a large model of the Connecticut, perfect in every detail, even to -the guns. This model wk drawn by ten horses, and was manned by children dressed as officers and men, in correct naval uniform.

"The ecene at night was one out of fairyland. The fleet was outlined in manycoloured lights, funnels, masts, and the body of ships showing up thengraceful yet powerful lines. I witnessed the Jubilee review in the English Channel, but I do not think the scene approached this entrancing spectacle. ' I understand that similar illuminations are to be the order in Auckland, and the sight should be one that will not be easily forgotten. Along the- waterfront there was also one continuous line of light. The biggest electrical illumination ever prepared was fixed along the front. This was the word 'Welcome, \ carried out fill thousands of electric lato&ps. You : may imagine the effect when I tell you that each letter was 25ft in length. The Ferry Building was one mass of electric lights, the principal decoration being a great ''Stars and Stripes," beautifully carried out in blue, red,, and white. All the public offices and hotels were illuminated. Along Market-street, which runs from the harbour, lights were suspended from sidewalk to sidewalk, forming one continuous arch of light. Along Filmer-street and Van Ness Avenue, a norel style of electrical decoration was adopted. Fighting turrets were run up at intervals, with guns and mast-head lights complete, the whole being outlined in electric lamps. " The scene, as I have said, was a lively one, and I may mention that the people in America are waiting with great interest to hear how their fleet is welcomed in Britain's colonies. ill '■ w^w—W^WWwiw^ An invitation has been received by the officer commanding the Tauranga Mounted Rifle Corns for the members of the squadron to attend the military manoeuvres at Auckland during Fleet Week (writes our correspondent). Tlje men, however, unanimously decided to decline the invitation under the conditions outlined.