THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9320, 21 August 1908, Page 1

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

ARRIVAL IN THE HARBOUR. I DISPLAYS OF ENTHUSIASM. tJnited Press Association — By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright. SYDNEY, August 20. The morning broke clear, but befor< £ o'clock heavy smoke and fog obscure* the coastline. Prospects of viewing th< fleet appeared remote, and there wai k feeling of disappointment that th< Jrisitors' welcome would take place h fc grey morning. Even at 10 o'clocl little improvement had taken pjaee At 11, as if the whole thing had beer the mist lifted like a cur tain and revealed the White Fleel gleaming in the sunlight, standing toWards the heads along the frowning Coastline, north and south of the harbour opening. Silhouetted against thf akyline was a serried rampart of humanity. As the Connecticut enterec close up to the north head, might; fcheering commenced on the south head, which was taken up by .the crowds -on. the north and middle heads, iirith the shrieking of the sirens ami thistles of the flotilla of steamers, ilack with \ people, fringing the fairtray. The noise was deafening. The fleet entered in single line, the vessels 'moving swiftly round the- southern lieed into the eastern channel and gliding up the harbour at an evenly spaced distance to their various berths. At fevery point along the harbour oourse large crowds cheered the vessels as they passed them. i The traffic was quite unable to cope with such a huge multitude convergllng on the heads, and many thousands jwalked the whole distance. The stream W traffic eet in before daylight, and !*ras . maintained in an unbroken rush %U1 11 o'clock. By that hour practically the whole populace of Sydney and suburbs, with the influx from other States, were entrenched on every available observation point on the coast and parbour frontages. On the harbour itthe scene was most animated. Out)dde the fairway, which, was kept clear Jar the incoming fleet, everything that feould float in the way of a boat was haoored with its living freight, and (through this avenue of craft the fleet tnoved up majestically, the vessels falling into the allotted places with clock-rork-like precision. As the Connecticut passed Bradley's jßEead, she saluted the port, Fort Deniiton responding. Without fuss, each vessel steamed to her anchorage and? dropbed anchor. ' By one o'clock all were moored. I Admiral Sperry was greatly impressed with 'the enthusiasm of his reception. &t 8 o'clock Admiral Sperry' landed, j kmid the booming of guns, the Naval j Brigade forming a guard of honour. JSe called on Lord Northcote, the Governor-General, and a little later )bord Northcote and Sir Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales, returned the call. That concluded the official business for the day. It is difficult to estimate the numfcers who witnessed the magnificent pageant, but it is believed that fully $0,000 viewed the spectacle. Accidents were numerous. There were many serious tram accidents.' Seakick passengers fell overboard at the heads, but wore rescued. A man fell toff' the roof of a tram and was killed. 'About fifty persons were treated at the bospitals for injuries. A man fell over the cliff at South {lead and was killed; ■■■ '