FLEET IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13834, 21 August 1908, Page 5

FLEET IN SYDNEY.

MAGNIFICENT WELCOME.

HALF-A-MILLION PEOPLE.

GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

EXCITING SIR I' SCENES.

LIST OF CASUALTIES.

FIFTY IN THE HOSPITAL.

By Telejrraph.—Press Association.—

(Received August 20. 8.20 p.m.)

Sydney. August 20. Tub great white fleet of the United States arrived in Sydney Harbour this morning. Admiral Sperry'e flagship in the lead, entering the heads precisely at the hum arranged, viz.. 11.50 o'clock. The coastline was everywhere black with humanity, and the harbour alive with cra:t j of all descriptions, and it is believed that j over 400,000 people viewed the great naval pageant, some estimate* giving the figure at half-a-million. Visitors had been pouring into the city all night, and from In-fore daylight there was a steady exodus to points of vantage along the foreshores. Every possible means of transit was pressed into service, and all were densely crowded. Many thousands, unable to get care, walked out to the South Head from the city. Some, in excess of enthusiasm, camped out all night. WILD ENTHUSIASM. The morning broke fine and clear, but before eight o'clock a heavy tog obscured the coast line. The prospects o: getting a good view of the approach of the fleet appeared remote, and there was a feeling of disappointment amongst the sightseers. Even at 10 o'clock little improvement had taken place. At 11 o'clock, as if the whole thing had been prearranged, the mist lifted like a curtain, and revealed the great white fleet gleaming in the sunlight, standing towards the heads. Along the frowning coast line, north and south of the harbour opening, silhouetted against the skyline, was a serried rampart of humanity. As the Connecticut entered Port Jackson a, mighty cheering commenced on the South'" Head, which was taken up by the crowds on the North and Middle Heads. With the shrieking of sirens and the whistles of the flotilla of steamers, black with people that were fringing the fairway, the noise was deafening. AN ANIMATED SCENE. The fleet entered in single line, each vessel moving swiftly round the southern head into the eastern channel, and gliding up the harbour at an evenly-spaced distance to the various berths. At every point along the harbour huge crowds cheered the vessels as they passed ! them. j Practically the whole populace of Sydney ! and suburbs, with the influx from the country and other States, were entrenched at every available observation point on the coast and harbour frontages. On the harbour itself the scene was most animated. Along the fairway, which was kept clear for the incoming fleet, everything that could float in the way of a boat was moored with its living freight, a.nd through this avenue of craft the fleet moved up majestically, falling into their allotted places with clockwork-like preci--1 sion.

As the Connecticut passed Bradley's Head she saluted the port with 21 guns, the guns on Fori Denison responding. Without any fuss each vessel stear/ed to her anchorage and dropped anchor, and by one o'clock all had moored. Admiral Sperry was greatly impressed with the enthusiasm of the reception. CEREMONIAL VISITS. At three o'clock Admiral Sperry landed amid the booming of guns, the Naval Brigade forming a guard of honour, and called on Lord North cote (the Governor-Gene-ral) and Sir Harry Rawson (the State Governor). A little later Lord Northcote and Sir Harry Rawson returned the call, and that concluded the official business for the day. D AYLIG FIREWORKS. Turing .heir long wait the crowds gathered ajjjjg the harbour front were entertained by a display of daylight fireworks, in the shape of bombs, which, exploding, displayed Union Jack«, bird*, and beasts. All this morning the streets of the city have been practically deserted.