AMERICAN BATTLESHIP FLEET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 9

AMERICAN BATTLESHIP FLEET.

Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright,

SYDNEY, July 31. The vote of £10,000 for tho reception of the American fleet lias passed the State ■Parliament.

(Pee Usited Pbess Association) n.■ T . AUCKLAND, July 31. bantam l>imond, tho commander of the • ?«£ * ' TOllicr whi6h b 3 * brought ' u-OUO tons of coal from America for the uso of the visiting fleet, estimates that the <■ American sailors will spend £2 a head during their slay in Auckland. "Running out and in, of American ports," he said, "I have had many opportunities of observing tho United States bluejackets. Indeed, shortly before tho MagdaJa left for Auckland I watched a fleet of 16 •bat&fihips, whkh will soon be here, steaming out of the iroads at Newport News, Virginia, and a magnificent sight it was, the long lino of ' warships' stretching- out over a distance of -' nearly seven miles. The American bhiejaoket receives pay amounting to between £3 and £4 a month, and from what I have. seen ho disposes of it liberally. I should say that it would bo a conservative estimate to figure each man as spending £2 during the week he is hero, and as over 12,000 men are coining that would mean £24,000 or more spent in Auckland aJone, so that it is true to say trado follows the flag." There is already a noticeable influx of visitors into the town, as can be seen by the crowded state „■ of Queen street every afternoon. Fresh arrivals are pouring in every day. The shops have a distinot flavour of fleet festivities, and street vendors announce with loud voiced persistency "latest American fleet novelties." The various schemes of decorations eeem to be well forward in their pranaiaitjons, a»d already several private decorations are up.