THE AMERICAN FLEET

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13678, 21 August 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICAN FLEET

VISIT • TO . AUSTRALIA. ■ PR EPA P. ATI QN S' AT Ryj)NFA T . Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright ST V)N KY-," August 20. ' The weal-lier is fine and bright, hut .■••cold."'Visitors liava 'been pouring into the 'city, all night, and since 'before day- ' light' I.here':wiis r Vi. steady <?xodii<s •tp.vftnt- : age' ground along thft coa?t and harbour .fortshores. Ev'ery possible means of transit, .'been pressed into 'service, all rirfi densely crowded 1 . Some in Vlieiv ' cxcesi of enthusiasm- ramped out all n,-hi "j'he. high *i;oeky coast for ; miles"'from Botiiny i<d the "Heads affords a ni'ionitirrni" pa'riorarnic view-.of the„ap- | proai.-hing lli-et: li- is expected 1 that) th* Fleet will signal off Botany at. 9 o'clock, and enter the harbour at, According to - present indications, before- that- time the ' spectators ; afloat and ashore and along the route will -number some hundreds of thousands. ■ The shipping in the harbour is gaily dressed.; The final touches have, been put on the decorations, and the city looks at iffi best. ADMIRAL SPERRY'S REPLY. s» SYDNEY, August 20. Admiral Sperry sent, the following wireless reply to Lord Northcot.e: ■ "On behalf of the flovernment of the United States and fleet. I thank you most heartily, and through you the people of the Commonwealth, for your gracious message ; of welcome to the American Fleet, the officers and men of which ate looking forward with most, pleasurable anticipations to a. better acquaintance with their kinsmen of this great- member of the British Empire]" Fleet enter, port .taokson. (TREAT PATRIOTIC! DISPLAY. Received 7.1.5 p.m., August 20tli. SYDNEY, August 20. The morning broke clear, but before 0- o'clock a heavy smoke-fog obscured the coastline. .Prospects of viewing the fleet appeared remote, and there, was a. feeling of disappointment that the. visitors' we!: >m? would take place in a. grey morning Even. afc ! lo o'clock little improvement had taken place.- '*■' At 11 "o'clock, as if the wh;>le ti.'ng hud been prearranged, the ni.s, lifted like a curtain, and revealed the white fleet gleaming in the sunlight, standing towards the Heads. The sight- war; magnificent. An hour was spent in manoeuvring off the lighthouse..

At- 11.30 the fleet. stood u'lt. again formed into line, and entered the lieadr, in single file, the flagship leading tJie flotilla into the harbour.

The slopes near the harbour and ■everywhere were black with humanity, and craft of all .descriptions wlcire moored outside the fairway, all traffic being stopped during the entrance of the fleet. As - each passed, moving majestically to the anchorage, it, was greeted with an outburst, of cheering, excitement running high. " ■'?* As the Connecticut, entered close up to the North Head, mighty cheering commenced on the South Head, which was taken up by the crowds on the North and Middle Heads, with shrieking sirens and' whistles of ■.%' flotilla of steamers, black with, people fringing the fairway, the noise being deafening. The fleet entered in single file, each vessel moving swiftly round 'he southern fifcad into the eastern channel, gliding tip the harbour at evenly-spaced distances to the various berths; At every point along the harbour, course huge crowds cheered the vessels as they passed them. The traffic was quite unable to cope with so huge a multitude converging on the Heads. Many thousands walked the whole distance. The stream of traffic set in before daylight and when properly established maintained an unbroken rush till 11 o'clock. By that Hour practically the whole "of : the populace of Sydney and suburbs witlr ait' 'iiifiiM' from other States, were entjferiched l available observation point on t"he coast and harbour frontages. On the harbour' itself the scerie'Tvas most, animated. Along the fairway which was kept clear for the incoming fleef, everything {hat could float in the way'6f" boats was'moored with its living and through this avenue of craft the fleet moved: up majestically, the. ships falling into their alio .-- places with clockwork-like 'precision.

The Floolv m;ule j«s bow to At'fitralia by a. snlut'« oi 21 guns fired by the Connecticut. |o which Fori. Denison replied. During tae long wait, fcho spectators from (lie n.'frliour worn entertaihVd'with a display of davbght. fireworks, in tlie shape of bomKi which on exploding displayed' union jaiks birds, beasts, and fither figures. I lie weat her was glorious, and" the streets were almost Vtfiserted.

Admiral SpeiVy was greatly impressed wirh ■ Ihe enthusiasm' of'-'ihe reception. At- 3 o clock Admiral Sperry landed .amid: thfl booming" 'ofguns, the Naval Brigade : forming A giiard of , honour. He called on Lord- Norbhcote, and a little lat&r Lord Norfciicoto and Mr 11. Ra.wson returned the call'. ''"Tljat concluded the official -business for the day." If. is difficult to «»tim;Vfe (lie liumlier of people who witlnesKod miigiiificei'it pageant, but, if. is believed■< thai, fully 400,000 viewed the iSpectacle.

Numerous tram acfcidents were reported", rile result of the enormous crush of the morning. ' 1 life injuries were mostly slight; 'were numerous, many being serious. Seasick passengers ic-|[ overboard -at (lie Jieruls; but.' they were rescued. A man fell from 'the roof of a tram and-was killed. About, 50 persons were Treated: ao the hospitals lor injuries. ' . Tire CITY. AT -NIGHT. A BRILLIANT DISPLAY. Received 9.45 p.-nt., August 20th. ' " "SYDNEY,-August 20. , Tliia, cil v In-nigta*'*&' brilliantly, illuminated, with both" American and English vessels . glowing with . myriads ;■ of lamps.

and presents a. wonderfully bcfciutiful SCeilfi. Although Hip. city illumination does not reach \in extent the efforts put, forth at Commonwealth time, still it lias been well done. Tilt l , most imposing decorative effect is that of an immense statu* o.f Liberty, after Bertholdi, in front of the "Daily Telegraph" officer. A bronze s*tatue rises from the pavement to a height, of some 60 feel.. Hanked on either hand with the American flag and the Union .Tack, worked with electric lamps.

The Town Hall is beautiful in its simplicity, the architectural outlines of the structure being lined with electric lamps. The Post, Office presents a. most striking effect., the huge building being a sparkling mafos of lights.

The Custom House is surmounted with the Mayflower, and the inscription "To our kinsmen of the Mayflower." At Admiralty House, on the water front, the American coat, of aims in heroic size and delineated in coloured lamps, casts its radiance across the bay.

Martin Place, in wliioh the Post Office i3.ta.nrls, is beautifully festooned with streamers in art. shades, suspended from Corinthian pillars, and surrpminted by an American eagle. Along Macquarrie s reet festoons of greenery cross and recross the .Tpeeit, converting it into a long archway oi green. At. tilie entrance to the archway stand two .missive pillars. That on the right, is surmounted with a golden eagle and on the shaft of the column are inscribed in gold the names of the American vessels. The column on the left bears a gold l lion, while the inscriptions display the names of all the admirals who held commands on the Australian station. All the public are. gorgeously illuminated, bearing devices of a suitable character. The streets are crowded with sightseers ; bands of music, are playing American and English airs at various points. Few of tlie officers and men of the fleet were ashore to-night, as the real' entertainment does not commence till tomorrow. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S DINNER, Received 11.58 p.m., August 20th. SYDNEY, August. 20. The Governor-General entertained! at dinner the Admirals of the American fleet,. Admiral Poore (Britain), Air Deakin (Premier) and the Federal Ministers, the State Ministry and Privy Councillors, and the Victorian and Queensland Ministers. It was a brilliant, function.