AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13839, 27 August 1908, Page 5

AMERICAN FLEET.

RECEPTION* IN JAPAN. WARM WELCOME ASSURED. GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE. By Telegraph.—Proas Association.— (Received August 26. 11.45 p.m.) . Tokio, August 20. Semi-official journals in Tokio bespeak the warmest reception for Admiral Sperry's fleet by the Government and people of Japan. THE VISIT TO SAMOA. CRUISER SQUADRON SAILS. San Francisco, August 25. Rear-Admiral W. S. Swinburne's squadron of six of the largest and most up-to-date cruisers in the American navy, and seven destroyers, has sailed from San Francisco for Apia, in acceptance of Germany's invitation. After its visit to Apia, the fleet will proceed to San Diego and Magdalena Bay, returning to San Francisco in December.

LAST DAY IN SYDNEY.

CHILDREN'S DEMONSTRATION | i IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. VISITORS WIN RIFLE MATCH. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. ; (Received August 26, 9.30 p.m.) j Sydney, August 26. The last day of the fleet festivities was allotted to the children's demonstration. The Cricket Ground proved far too small to accommodate the immense gathering of spectators, which included many Americans. Eight thousand scholars of the public schools, dressed .in red, white, and blue, went through various exercises and tableaux vivants, representing the words. "Hail, Columbia." and immense American and Australian flags. During the ceremony 5000 white pigeons were liberated, the cffec f being a remarkably picturesque one. The rifle match, American Fleet v. Rifle Association Council's Team, at 200, 500, and 600 yards ranges, 20''men a-side, was won by the Americans with a score of 1884, the Australians- only registering 1755. The fleet will leave at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. The British warships Powerful and : Challenger sailed for Melbourne to-day, to be in readiness to welcome the fleet there. (Received August 27, 1.12 a.m.) Sydney, August 26. The city and the ships of the fleet were illuminated to-night, great crowds making the most of the final opportunity for fraternising with the visitors. THE SENSE OF KINSHIP. "OPEN HAND AND HEART." COMMONWEALTH TO AMERICA. By Telegraph.— Association— Copyright. j Melbourne. August 26. i A long message from Mr. Deakin apI peared in the leading American papers on | Thursday last, in which, after expressing j Australia's overwhelming sense of obligaI tion to the people of the United Slates for I generously despatching their proud fleet of battleships, the Prime Minister declared that " the invitation springs solely from an earnest desire to deepen our mutual sense of kinship, sympathy and solidarity.

•'Nor can this answer appear insufficient when it is remembered that these very sentiments and the proud impulses allied to them have, out of many separate States, built up your great Republic, stretching from ocean to ocean, enormous in range and development, and with prospects illimitable. From the same sources and through similar channels here the same power is shaping our sundered colonies into one Commonwealth, enabling us to evoke strength equal to our vast opportunities. The' Mother Country itself, in whose giant cradle of liberty both your freedom and ours was nursed, is meeting the strain of her far-reaching Empire by elaborating, slowly, but surely, new federal precedents, which portend the free union of free dominions, growing stronger as they grow together.

"■ln the meantime, realising the riches of natural national relationship, we look instinctively first, and confidently, to you Americans, nearest to us in blood, in character, and in purpose. It is in this spirit and in this hope that Australia welcomes with open hand and heart the coming of your sailors and of the flag which, like our own, shelters a new world under the symbol of its vital union. " May the present "accord between the English-speaking peoples beget a perpetual concord between us, thus making for the fulfilment of the advent of the promise of ' Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.'" THE HONOUR OF THE FLEET. Sydney, August 26. Four sailors belonging to the fleet set upon a blaek sailor, also a member of the fleet, for insulting a barmaid in a hotel in King-street. The negro was terribly knocked about, his nose being broken, and his upper lip almost severed by a kick. JOURNALISTS ENTERTAINED. A GOVERNMENT WELCOME 'Received August 27, 1.12 a.m.) Sydney, August 26. The Government officially welcomed the American and --ther visiting pressmen at a luncheon in the Town Hall. The Premier (Mr. Wade) presided, 150 prominent pressmen being present. The American journalists' spokesman, replying to the complimentary speeches, said, "You have overdone it, and kept us so busy with social obligations that we have had no time to write, but rest assured that within the next three months the United States will know more about you than it has ever known before."