FRIENDS IN A DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19094, 12 August 1925, Page 16

FRIENDS IN A DAY.

THE AMERICANS ASHORE.

MAKING NEW FRIENDSHIPS.

SOME AUCKLAND IMPRESSIONS. The invasion of Auckland yesterday afternoon and evening by over 4000 officers and men from the warships in port brought to tho city its first tinge of tho new carnival spirit. The landing the men at tho steps near the Prince's Wharf was watched by hundreds of interested spectators, who were given their first introduction to tho personnel of the visiting battleships., A score of naval cutters brought tho men ashore in quotas of 60 or so. They seomed delighted to be once more on hospitable ground, and all were smiling as they came up tho steps and - walked briskly toward tho City through two linos of searching faces. The Aucklander, accustomed to tho men of tho British Navy, will find many points of difference between the Jack Tars and these sailors. A hundred different types are represented and a* dozen or so nationalities. They are distinguished, on the whole, by an alertness of eye and a friendly disposition which should go far to promote a good-natured spirit bo twees the visitors and citizens.

Tho American sailor is evidently as affable and genial an acquaintance as his British cousin. Ho lost no time in making friends in Auckland, for he was no sooner ashore than he was. engaged in conversation with idlers in the hotels and with hospitably-inclined young men at street corners. In two hours' time, he was amiably walking up Street with his new-found acquaintances—arm-iu-arm as often as not. It was also evident last evening that the visitors- have very definite predilections toward feminine charms. The first victory was won while the admirals of the fleet were being landed at the Admiralty steps. Not five minutes had elapsed before an American sailor was chatting briskly with a maiden of some 21 summers —the campaign being followed in its every phase by a circle of envious companions. And the attitude of the fair sex toward the visitors is equally encorraging. Some surprise was expressed at the fair sprinkling of what Wefe . commonly supposed to be Japanese with the fleet. These men are not •• Japanese, but Fillipinos, and are employed, with tho negroes among their number, as officers' servants and mess attendants.

The shore police (distinguished by the letters S.P. on their arms) were much in evidence in the streets yesterday and maintained a very strict control over the men on shore.

Approximately half the fleet's complement will come ashore each day, so that every man will have three days on leave out of each week.- 'Leave commences at 10 a.m. and expires at eight o'clock the next day, thus giving the men a day and a night-ashore.

PROTECTING VISITORS. TWO THIEVES SENTENCED. MAGISTRATE'S COMMENTS. At the Sydney Police Court recently two men were sentenced to six months' imprisonment on charges of theft from United States sai'ors. " It is difficult to protect our visitors from the parasites that infest Sydney, as well as other big cities," said the magistrate, Mr. McMahon, S.M. " Since the arrival of the fleet, it has got abroad among the criminal classes that the American sailors are good marks. Still, we can show our American cousins that the law is strong enough to vindicate their rights, when • the offenders como beforo the Courts."

Patrick Geary, aged 40 years, a clerk, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having stolen two dollar bills and one key, valued at 8s lOd, the property of Nilus Claytob Swenson, a water tender on the Idaho. Swenson stated that he was in a hotel when the defandant picked his pocket. Witness, however, caught him' by the arm and held him until the police appeared. Mr. McMahon convicted defendant and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Patrick Raffarty, aged 31 years, a fireman, was also sentenced to sj* months' imprisonment, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen ,20 dollar bi'ls, and other cash, a total value of £7 7s 9d. from Stuart Wilkins. a sailor of the United States Fleet. The timely arrival of a constable prevented the loss of the money.

THE NEW MEXICO. "A WONDER SHIP." Of the battleships visiting Auckland with the fleet one of the most interesting is the New Mexico, known by the officers and men who served in her as the " Wonder Ship." The New Mexico, it is claimed, was the first battleship in the world to be equipped with electric drive. An experimental installation of this revolutionary method of propulsion was tested' in tho collier Jupjter, since converted into the United States' first aircraft carrier, and renamed The result of the excellent performance of this installation was that it was determined to place a similar one in a battleship. The officer to whom can be given in a very great degree the credit for the adoption for electric drive is Admiral Robison, Commander-in-Chief of the Battle Fleet. The New Mexico's performance was such that electric drive is now the 'standard for the United States Navy's large vessels. Economy, simplicity of operation, improved tactical qualities—these are some of the reasons for electric propulsion, as demonstrated by this pioneer battle ship. The New Mexico displaces somewhat in excess of 32,000 tons. EXCHANGE OF GREETINGS. MANY WIRELESS MESSAGES. A wireless message of welcome to the fleet was sent early yesterday by Sir James Parr, representing tho Government. A suitable reply was received from Admiral Robison in tho morning. . The admiral also sent replies to messages of greetifig from the DeputyMayor and the Auckland Harbour Board.