THE AMERICAN FLEET

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 30

THE AMERICAN FLEET

! ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY. I ENTHUSIASTIC BECEPTIOtt

ADMIRAL SPERRY DELIGHTED. SYDNEY, August- 19. "Without approaching in any degree the fine display made in honour oi the founding of the Commonwealth, the decorations of the portion of the citythrough which the procession of Americans and visitors will pass are conceived and ■executed in a highly-artistic manner. The city to-night is undergoing a rehearsal for Friday's displays. Tens of thousands throng the streets, and most of the public buildings and private business houses are brilliantly illuminated with many-hued lamps. The weather is beautifully fine but cold. Lord Northcote forwarded by wireless telegraph 'the following message to Admiral Sperry t— " On behalf of the Commonwealth I tender you a hearty welcome from the whole of its people to the American fleet, which represents so magnificently our friends and kinsmen of ; the United States. We hope you have j had a good voyage from New Zealand, and on yonr arrival you will receive an enthusiastic greeting from this -part of his Majesty's Empire." SYDNEY, August 20. The weather is -fine, 'bright, and cold. Visitors have been pouring into the city [ all night. Before daylight there was a steady exocfus to vantage ground along the coast and harbour foreshores. E-v-ery- possible means of transit) Ires been pressed into service, and all are densely crowded. Some people, in their \ excess of enthusiasm, camped out all j night. j The higl rocky coast for miles from | Botany -to the heads affords a magnificent i panoramic view of the approaching fleet. j The shipping in the harbour is gaily ; dressed, and final touches are being put i to the decorations. I The city looks its ,best. j The 'lights of the -fleet were first sighted shortly after 5 o'clock this morning, but then the darkness arid a mist obscured it, and it was not -again observed till 7.30, and then only a- -short glimpse was obtained. The seaward watchers on the cliffs had another two hours' wait, and at the end of that time one -big line -of great, ghostlike white vessels shouldered its way out j of the mist, ,and became plainly visible. i Approaching the coast the single line pre- ' sented an imposing spectacle. I On running clo&er in shore the line 1 broke into sections of four, slackened speed, and slowly ran down the coast | towards the heads, performing a series of ' intricate and interesting manoeuvres. } A large fleet of crowded steamers, which , went out early to meet the squadron, fell in behind aaid escorted the fleet to the heads. The cliffs everywhere were alive with sightseers, and tbere- were enormous crowds at the North and Soirth Heads to watch the entrance. An hour was spent in manoeuvring off the lighthouse. At 11.30 a.m. tne fleet stood out again, and then enter-ed the heads in single *file, the flagship leading the flotilla into the harbour, where it was [greeted with an outburst of cheering, j The fleet saluted Australia, with 21 guns fired by ihe Connecticut, to which Fort Dennist-on .replied. There were numerous tram accidents as the .result of the crush. | As the fog cleared away the sight w-as magnificent. The elopes of the harbour everywhere wer-e black with -humanity, and the harbour was alive with craft of all descriptions, which were moored outside the fairway. All traffic was stopped , during the entrance of the fleet. I As each vessel paeeed, moving majestically to her anchorage, she was (greeted , with an outburst of cheering, the excitej ment running Jiigh. i , During the long wait the spectators in , the harbour were entertained with a dis- , play of daylight fireworks in the shajje ! of bombs., which on exploding displayed Union Jacks, birds, and beasts. Other numerous tram accidents are reported as the result of the enormous '• crush in the morning, but they are mostly slight. The weather is glorious. The morning broke clear, but before 8 o'clock heavy smoke and fog obscured the coastline. The prospect of viewing the fleet appeared remote, and there was a ffteling of disappointment that the visitors' welcome would take place in the grey morning. Even at 10 o'clock little improvement had taken place, but at 11 o'clock, a 6 if the whole thing had been prearranged, the mist lifted liKe a curtain and Tevealed the white fleet gleaming in the sunlight and standing towards the heads. Along the frowning coastline north and south of the harbour opening, silhouetted against the skyline, was a &en-iad rampart of humanity. As the Connecticut entered the harbour close up to Noith Head ihighty cheering commenced on South Head., which was taken up by the crowds on North and Middle Heads. With the shrieking sirens and whistles of the flotilla of steamers, which were black with people, and which were fringing the fail way, the noi^e nai deafening

The fleet --entered in single Tine, each vessel moving swiftly round the southern bead into the eastern channel, and gliding up the harbour at an evenly-spaced distance to her berth. At every point along the harbour course huge crowds cheered the vessels as they passed "them. The facilities were quite inadequate to cope with such a huge multitude converging on the -heads, and many thousands walked the whole distance. The stream of traffic set in before daylight, and, once properly established, was maintained in an unbroken Tush till 11 o'clock. JBy that hour practically the whol« populace of Sydney and suburbs, with an influx from other States, was entrenched at every available observation point on the coast and harbour frontages. J On the harbour itself the scene was most animated along the fairway, which was kept clear for the incoming .fleet. Everything "that could .float -in the way of boats was moored with its living •freight, and through this avenue of 'craft the fleet moved u_p .majestically, falling into their allotted places witli elockwork4ike precision. Without fuet' each vessel steamed to her anchorage, and dropped anchor, and by 1 o'clock all .were moored. Admiral Sperry was- greatly impressed with the enthusiasm of -the reception. At 3 o'clock Admiral Sperry landed amid the booming of -guns, the Naval Brigade forming a guard of honour. He called on Lord Nortbcote (GovernorGeneral), and a little later Lord Northcote and Sir H. Rawson (State Governor) returned the call. That concluded the official business ~ior the day. It is difficult to estimate the numbers who witnessed the magnificent pageant, but it is believed that fully 400,000 people viewed the spectacle. Accidents were numerous, many being serious tram accidents A. seasick passenger fell overboard at the heads, but was rescued. A man fell from the roof of a tram, and was lulled. About 50 persons were treated at the hospitals for injuries. The city to-night is brilliantly illuminated, and with both the American and the English vessels glowing -with myriad lamps presents a wonderfully beautiful scene. Although the city illuminations do not reach in extent the efforts put forth at -Commonwealth time, still they have bsen very well done. The most imposing decorative effect is that of an immense statue of Liberty, after Bartholdi, in front of the Daily Telegraph building. The bronze statue rises from the pavement to -a height of some 60ft, and is flanked on either hand with the American -flag and the Union Jack"' worked with lamps. The Town Hall is beautiful in its simplicity, the architectural outlines of the structure Jjeing lined with electric lamps. The Post Office presents a most striking effect. The huge building is one sparkling mass of lights. T.he Custom House is surmounted with the Mayflower and the inscription "To Our Kinsmen of the Mayflower," while at Admiralty House, on the water front, the American coat of arms in heroic size and delineated in coloured Jamps casts its radiance across the bay. Martin place, in which the Post Office stands, is beautifully festooned with streamers in art shades suspended from Corinthian pillars, surmounted by the American Eagle. Along Macquarie street festoons of greenery cross and recroes the street, converting it into a long archway of green. At the entrance of the archway stand two massive pillars. That on the right ;s; s surmounted by a golden eagle, and on the shaft of the ooliunn is inscribed in goloT the names of the American vessels. The column on the left bears a gold lion, while inscriptions display the names of all the admirals who have held commands on the Australian station. All the public buildings are gorgeously illuminated, bearing devices, of a .suitable character. The streets are crowded with sightseers, and bands playing American and English airs are stationed at various points. „ Few men of the fleet are ashore to-night, as the real entertainment does not commence till to-morrow. One man fell over the cliff at South Head, and was lulled. The Governor-General entertained at dinner the Admiral of the American fleet. Admiral Poore, Mr Deakin, the Federal 'Ministers, the State Ministry, Privy Councillors, and Victorian and Queensland Ministers. The function was a brilliant one. The Glacier arrived to-night, and the Relief entered the heads an hour after. LONDON, August 17. Washington telegrams state that part of the United States fleet will visit G.enoa and Naples, and po.ssibly Leghorn and Palermo. The Spectator says that the rise of the United States navy ought to mean peace in the Pacific if mischief-makers are not allowed to represent that navy a<i a weapon to be Uoed in a race feud | between English-speaking people and ! Asiatics. I