THE AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19102, 21 August 1925, Page 10

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

SEARCHLIGHT DISPLAY. MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. GEEAT CROWD ASSEMBLES. PAGFANT OF THE SKIES. Yast crowds assembled on every vantage point in and around tho city last evening, awaiting with eager expectancy tho most spectacular and wonderful feature of Fleet Fortnight, tho illumination of the warships and tho searchlight display. By half-past seven tiie waterfront and the rising ground in the vicinity of Emily Place and Anzac Avenue were thronged; motor-cars by tho hundred were parked in adjacent streets, and tho scene was one of stir and activity as latecomers strove to find a place in the crowd packed five and six deep at tho edge of tho footpath. Children wero there b|y tho scoro, oven babies in arms; it 1b not overy night that a pageant of tho skies is to be seen in Auckland, and Auckland was out to make the most of Its opportunity I

The wind blew keenly, and rain camo drifting out of a dark and loworing sky, The cirrwd wrapped its coats and furs closer i it had hoped for a clear, still night, jewelled reflections, an unclouded sky, for Auckland suddenly forgot its disappointed hopes, for down the wind camo the clanging of a clock; a long, slim finger of light suddenly pointed in tho sky, and noxt instant Auckland was looking on a miracle of beauty, on tho heavens transformed into a vast canopy of flashing lights. Every warship blazed into light, each ship outlined from bow to stern, from masthead to deck, with tiny golden globes. In dazzling linos of fairly-like beauty they stood out, etched in gold, against tho dark background of the water and the shadows of North Shore. They looked like fascinating toy ships, like a set piece, pricked out in glittering points of light, in somo majestic scheme of illumination. A long sigh of enraptured wonder and admiration passed through the crowd. Then the magio of the scene held them speechless. Followed by 10,000 eyes, those most wonderful eyes in earth and sky, the eyes of' the searchlight went probing into tho darkest corners of tho heavens, into the heart of tho clouds, out io tho utn ost edge of tho horizon. The sky became a vast dome, trellised and interlaced with dazzling sheaves of light. The darkness was cut visibly into fragmenta by piercing swords and spears and sabres, which crossed and recrossed In strange and brilliant play.

It was a scono which left the multitude breathless with wonder and admiration. It made the harbour by night u place of magic and mystery, a setting for a never-to-be-forgotten pageant of glory. From each brightly-illuminated vessel came four pointing fingors, some short, some so long that they went right into the heart of tho clouds, and down to tho rim of tho heavens, so that watchers in honies far out in the suburbs caught the reflection of the night's pagentry and .were tnnlled Tvith the beauty of it. Backwards and forwards, ever restless, swayed the quest ing lights, until no part of the firmament was hid irom their brightness. - Then suddenly, at half-past eight, tho lights became fixed, and the steady glow 01 40 searchlights poured upwards into the dark vault of tho sky. For awhile they remained thus stationary, giving the watchers an excellent opportunity of studying the massed effect of tho carnival of brilliance in sea and sky. Then the searching and the stabbing began again, and still the people watched and waited.

Down the wind, charged row with bleak rain-squalls, came the clanging of tho clock and as suddonly as it had flashed into dazzling brightness the sky went dark and cold. Tho great searchlight display was overi out in the harbour tho ships still lay in lines of gold against the shadows, but tho pageantry of tho heavom had passed, and night, dark and sullen, drew close her black robes and enveloped earth and sky once more within her shadows. •

MARKSMEN OF THE FLEET. MATOH WITH AUCKLAND. KEEN CONTEST ANTICIPATED. The men selected from tho ships of tho United States Battle Fleot for the practices in preparation for the rifle shooting match with a team selected from the Auckland Rifle Clubs havo been going out to tho Penrose range each morning and havo become acquainted with tho peculiarities of the range and the light conditions. Tho match, which ia to take Slace at Penrose to-morrow, should ovelop into a very keen contest as the chips are ablo to parade some expert shots as was proved by their success in matches against Australians.

The fleet team will bo under tho charge of Lieutenant W. W. Feineman of the Mississippi, who will select his team from the following officers and enlisted men who havo been taking part in the practices:— Officers: Lieutenant H. 8. Neilson (Maryland), Second Lieutenant L. G. Miller (California), and Ensign B. Bartlett (Colorado). Enlisted men: Kohler, James, Whitt, Easterling and Hoffman (Mississippi); Lamano, Smart and Bennott (New Moxico); Elshio, Windisch and Virra (IdahoJ; Koch, Loclhvood and Fleming (California); Peters, Storm, Simmons, Wolfo, Brown, Kicter, Walker, Moore, Hansen, Gardner and Roidol (Colorado) and Schemmer (Maryland). Tho following will represent tho Auckland clubs: —G. Devore, Itoston, S. Elliott, W. Powell, A. Powell, A. Hughes, J. White, Dunstan, Feisst, G. Hughes, A. G. Lowo, J. C. Yeo, A. Watson, Verrail, J. Spry, Peterson, A. Patrick, Winner, Russell, Stock. Emergencies: F. Atkinson, Cullhane, Shove, Wakefield Clarke, Draffin and G. Ashley. METHODIST HOSPITALITY. PITT ST. ENTERTAINMENTS. Ono of tho social centres which seems to havo been most popular with many of tho men of tho fleet has been the Pitt tnreet Methodist schoolroom. From two o clock each afternoon to nino each evening, refreshments and tablo games have kv. n d'sp o ™ l of tho men, and from t>'J to 100 men each day have accepted the hpspitahty offered by tho various Methodist Churches. Tho effort at Pitt Street has been but part of the plans laid by the naval chaplain, Rev J. Ernest Parsons, and his committee. Knowing that upwards of 2000 Methodists wero with tho fleot, an exceli Auckland" was prepared, and 2000 copies, together with 2000 wo 1come cards, wero distributed. Several of tho churches also arranged social evenings in tiieir own schoolrooms, and as a result many of the men have found thoir way into Auckhnd homes. Last evening the members of the Devonport Church provided a special social evening at Pitt Street. This evening another programme will bo provided by members of the' Epsom, Remuera and Newmarket . Phaxches. I