THE AMERICA FLEET

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13681, 25 August 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICA FLEET

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE.

Press Association-By SYDNEY, August. 24: Lord Noitihcpiie' sent the following message to President- Roosevelt .on Thursday Australians, hundreds of thousands of whom are .gathered onvtlie sllpre of Sydney harbour to welcome the battleship flgeb j.of the United States, which at this moment is entering, the eastern gateway of this continent, unite .in cordial greetings to President Roosevelt. The people of the Commonwealth , gratefully appreciate, the generous, response to, tlieir invitation by the President and- citizens of the great republic, and rejoice in the oppoitunity afforded by this demonstration of the. might of American naval, power to express their singer© admiration bf yttur sailors, "aild -their'esteem and affection - for a.cpUntlry ; wjipse glorious flag tliey hope to see always floating , beside that of their Motherland."

President Rppsevelt replied' as- follows : VI desir,e _ to. express to the . Uoyerhor(Seneral arid ihe Government, and 'through them to the . entire people, of tho mighty Commonwealth -of , Australia,■ the appreciation which the American people feel for their generous' hospitality to the American fleet. . The people of this, republic hold in peculiar esteem and admiration the people of Australia, and if..is a- very real pleasure for me, on behalf of the nation, to accept . the generous hospitality preferred by Australia to the fleet on its voyage of peace j for the American navy is a .menace to no power, but is, on" the contrary, as we believe, an asset of high importance in securing peace and' justice throughout the world." TWO SAILORS DROWNED. ■SYDNEY, August, 24.. Fifteen thousand persons inspected the fleet yesterday. Two sailors of the fleet, .were drowned, one by the capsizing of a boat, and tho other 'through falling off the wharf. AN INVITATION DECLINED.

MELBOURNE, August 24. The Executive of the Political Labour League declined' an invitation to the American, Fleet inception, considering that the money could be belter spent in relieving the unemployed. A GREAT REVIEW. CHAMPION BOAT RACE. Received 5.40 p.m., August■24th* . SYDNEY, August 24. Two hundred' thousand persons witnessed the review of the naval and military forces in Centennial Park, where 14,000 men and cadets were- under ariiiSj including 2600 American sailors . and marines.

Lord N'oft-hcb'te, Sir : H. Rawson, Admiral • Sperry and!, other Admirals,. Mr Deakin, and' v 16 captains of the American fleet, .were present at the saluting base.

The review was' the finest seen . in Australia.

The troops after, the review marched to . Sydney, -the streets being thronged with hundreds of thousands of spectators., Glorious weatheiv. the -brilliantspectacled The. great boat race between the champion crew from the Louisiana and a dozen of. the Illinois best men for a stake, of 28,C00 dollars, .was lowed across the heads from near Manly to Clark Island, a distance of miles. Each ship contributed 14,000. dollaio. Tile Illinois' crew got away first, but the Louisiana's Towing better drew level in the first .quarter of a mile, and' at the mile had six lengths' advantage, eventually winning by 20 Lengths. ■

WHAT THE WELCOME/ MEANS. Received 11 p.m., August.,24th. . .... LONDON, August 24.. The "Tinj.es" says that Sydney's w«I-' come, to. llie fleet 'Makes it' clear thatsiblo political issues have. beVn...kept ' so much iu the background that their., mention in 'tJie comment of the British and American press is felt- almost us an intrusion. . The " Times■emphasises that Australian lliinds from the, higiiest: to the lowest are occupied ■vvith the pleasure of. giying hospitality, and: entertaining, and welcoming tlifi, country s , friends) witli a feeling of pride in being in the position of , the Empire's representatives.