THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 213, 2 September 1908, Page 2

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

iKSIEUDAi s I'iWUHAMME. Melbourne, September It Ve ti'i'ihiy's celebration's were eoneluded u-ith n Cmiimo.-iwenltu ban<juc.. It was a brilliant and historic (jatiu-niijr. Tue speeches «-i' N a raiteruturn ol tilt; friendly sentiments expressed at previous luuctitm's.

.Mr. A. Dvakin (I'Vdera'l Premier) rocrred to t'he natural national feeling ml the friendsli p between America .ml Australia.

The city was illuminated. The disday on a number of public buildings md one or two of the leading street*, .vitii the warship's lights, made an elective siiow, A torch light procession if 1500 lircmcn added un interesting feature.

Many people weiv overcome in the crushing crowds and hud to receive nredical treatment. The crowds blocked the railway stations. The sight was terrible. Women fainted in scores. It was impossible to provide accommodation for the immense crowds, and thousands were kept waiting for hours. Yesterday there was u rowing raw for the Uattenburg Cup and a money prize of £4OO between crews from the Louisiana it nil the warship Challenger. Tlrj distance was three miles. Thfl race resulted in an easy win for the Americans. The Rritish crew leil for about a quarter of a mile. Then thjst Americans sfliot in front, and they fla« ished with nearly 1000 yards to spar*.

A REMINDER TO AUSTRALIA. ' BRITAIN'S STRONG IUISHT ARM. London, August 31. The Daily Nuws remarks that it Is evident that Melbourne does not intend to be behind Sydney in the enthusiasm ■ of its welcome to the' American fleet, The News„rv.'niiuds Australians that Japan is Britain's ally for many years to come and also the ally of the Commonwealth. After justifying the withdrawal of Hiitish battlesitiips from the Pacific, the paper emphasises the fact that concentration is the first rule of naval strategy and that a seattvred fleet is rather worse t'lian none at all," The Chronicle says: "It is the British licet that secures Australia, and, so long as that fleet commands ths sea, it will continue to secure all the outlying Britons in the peacu, safety, and COB-! fidence then now enjoy; and tha protection is not less or more effectual, according to the concentration of the diet further from or nearer to particular parts of the Empire. Admiral Spcrry's fleet demonstrates the capacity, .of a fleet to make a distant expedition. The lesson to be reaped is that protection is afforded by striking far on near as circumstances require."

RAIN MARS FESTIVITIES. Received 1, 11.21 p.m. Melbourne, Last Night. The fleet festivities were marred by rain to-day. ARRIVAL OF AN OVERDUE COLLIER. . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Tuesday. It was recently cabled that the two overdue colliers British Monarch and Baron Minto, with coal for the American battleship fleet, had been reinsured at a premium of ten guineas per ceat. The Britislli Monarch arrived at Auckland this morning, 76 days out from Newport. Her captain reports having passed the Baron Minto, anchored in .Magellan Straits. He attributes the lengthy voyage to stormy weather and high seas.

KEELING IN AMERICA. ROOSEVELTs"WARNING. >' "FIGHTING" NAVY WANTED. President Roosevelt, speaking at the recent Naval Conference at Newport (says the New York Herald), urged the imperative need of a great "fighting' navy if the United States is to maintain a. commanding position among the nations of the world. He urged the need of such a navy as a factor ilb regulating immigration. His dealing with this question was interpreted as having a veiled allusion to Japan and tlio possibilities of trouble with that •nation of the Far East. His hearer*recalled the charge uttered by Richmond I*. Hobson before the Democrats Convention that the President had personally expressed to him his belief that hostilities with Japan would develop at nn early period. This warn. ing, thus interpreted, struck probably the most sensational note of toe day.' 'lllic New York World, in a recent issue, says: "Notwithstanding official denials there is little reason to doubt the '.lews that Brazil is being used as a, screen behind which Japan is carrying out a gigantic scheme of naval extension. Th? .thirtv warships—among libera three battlvihip. of the Dreadnought class and vanou* cruisers, scouts and destroyers—ordered by Brazil from British builders are credibly reported to be intended for Japan, and it is stipulated, as the rumors go, that these constructions shall •be delivered speedily. That Japan is tnking Btcps, eitiher direct or indirect, to increase. her navy to such an extent and so rapidly should not fail to disturb publvs opinion in both Jienyisphercs. "The United States should do likewise, and our common sense course of action is to build a similar fleet for'' the protection of the Atlantic seaboard. Tlio necessary ships should be ordered at the earliest possible moment.

"In the meantime the British Government inigQit reasonably be expected to prevent English shipyards from being turned into an annexe of tiro Japanese War and Navy Department*. Indeed, if British friendship for America is anything more than aa empty word tho British Government should prov* it by refusing to promote further the warlike designs of Japan against ttio United States."