"SHORE LEAVE”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 6

"SHORE LEAVE”

AMERICANS SEEING SYDNEY FRATERNAL CROWD IN STREETS t . PICNICS EVERY DAY (Received July 24, 5.5 p.m.) ; SYDNEY, July 24. In fine weather thousands of the personnel of the American fleet are today enjoying a. taste of “shore leave.’’ The streets are everywhere enlivened by groups of the dark blue uniformed and white-capped sailormcn, with a sprinkling of marines., distinguished bv their light blue trousers under dark jumpers. All are busy shopping, discussing the goods in shop windows, and sight-seeing.

Altogether they are a fraternal crowd, readily conversing with the people in the streets, arm . freely expressing their opinions, mostly in complimentary terms, on things Australian. A fair number - are taking ad7»utage of being outside- the bounds of the “dry” regime, and finding their (way to the hotels. ’ ■ On tho whole the visitors display less uniformity of stature, are thinner in the flank, are not so well set up, and are decidedly of more mixed nationality than the - personnel of the British navy. Three parties, totalling 700 officers and. men, left the city on picnio exwhich will be continued daily The American “Jack” ashore failed to impress the Sydney people favourably. Perhaps it was due ,to a small minority, but there were many regrettable brawls and cases of drunkenness on the first free day the visitors experienced. MELBOURNE’S WELCOME HALF A MILLION SPECTATORS MAJESTIC LINE OP’ WARSHIPS By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. MELBOURNE, July 24. The unfortunate incident m connection . with the steamer Weerooma, the inclemency of the weather, and the late bom* at which the warships came up the Bay robbed the welcome to the American fleet of some of the enthusiasm and spectacular effect anticipated. Nevertheless, despite the weather conditions great crowds gathered along ;tho foreshores and cheered the ships as they majestically followed each other ra a long line, with yards spanned, the visitors responding eagerly to cheering and flag-waving from tbe shore. After anchoring the remainder of the* day. was spent chiefly iri paying and receiving officials calls and other social functions. To-day, when the men come' ashore, the publio will have n bettei- chance of displaying their feelings. - . The city has bedecked and prepared itself in readiness, and if only the weather permits, the streets wiil present a brave sight. *; Admiral Coontz’s squadron comprises 44 vessels of various tonnage, and it took nearly two hours for the whole •neeb to pass the. Heads, and journey up the Bay Following on the heels or a pilot-ship, and steaming very slowly, owing to mudbanks and other dangers, the monster flagship Seattle had to do considerable manoeuvring be?be berthed at Prince’s Pier, Port Melbourne. It was late in the afternoon before the Admiral landed to 15 o calls, and subsequently 4000 men were given shore leave. They invaded the city during the night enjoying themselves freely, but such a tull-toned welcome as Sydney was able to give the parading navy yesterday was reserved for to-day.