U.S. FLEET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19365, 23 July 1925, Page 5

U.S. FLEET

SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE PREPARATIONS FLUTTERING BUNTING ON THE 'LINE OF MARCH By Telegraph—Per Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Julv 22. 10.10 p.m. SYDNEY, July 22. The reception committees and business houses along the lines of March, both in Sydney and in Melbourne, are extremely busy to-day putting the final touches to the preparations for the welcome of their separate fleet sections tomorrow. The weather is bright and fine but bitterly cold. On the whole, the decorations are much less extensive and •liberate than previous dressings in of royalty, at least as far as Sydney is concerned. Many buildings along the route of march of two thousand men of the fleet from Woolloomooloo Bay through the heart of th? city have had their faces washed and received a coat of paint, and the whole line is already gaily fluttering bunting, conspicuous amongst which is the Stars and Stripes. Public and other buildings outside the route are not making much display. Among the feature celebrations will be fireworks displays on the harbour and social entertainments provide*! arc most embraciv?. If th? men of the fleet survive all the functions that are outlined for them during their stay they will certainly require several days after departing to regain their proper sea legs.

The fact that the fleet on the day of arrival will be paid in English money is rejoicing the hearts of cry business people. They are looking forward to reaping a rich harvest without having to trouble wrestling with coinage and exchange questions on the dollar basis. ROUSING WELCOME ASSURED Received Julv 22, 10.10 p.m. SYDNEY. July 22. The weather so far is fine but bitterly cold. There has been a big influx of vis.iors from th? country in view of the fleet’s arrival to-inorrow, and the American sailors are assured of a rousing welcome. Th? fleet was sighted off Eden to-day but the weather there is bad. A warning has been issued to shipping that gales and heavy seas may be expected to-morrow. FLEET ON SEA OF GLASS AN EAKLY HORNING PICTURE aIOEKAKI PASSENGERS SEE THE ARMADA A MEMORABLE SPECTACLE SYDNEY, July 22. The Mocraki, cn route from New Zealand, hnd the unique experience of passing through the American Fleet. The sea was like glass, and early in the morning the advance guard of th*- fl«**t was sighted. Gradually all the ships of war came into sight. As soon as lhe fleet was observed, the captain of the Moeraki ordered ail the passengers to be aroused. The 'leeks were scon lined with an admiring throng. Gradually the paths of the fleet and the Moeraki converged, ami the captain of the Union Company vessel altered his course so as not to break the fleet’s formation. Th? Mocraki pass-e-1 between the battleships and the flagship Seattle. She was steaming at between twelve and thirteen knots an hour, th? fleet doing a little less. It seemed hardly to move. Shortly the fleet was riding on th? horizon and then the vessels disappeared one by one. It was a memorable sight that will wcver be forgotten by the passengers. THE FLEET DIVIDES heavy KAIN EXPERIENCED SYDNEY, July 22. A wireless mes‘tage from th<» American Fleet sixty miles off Gabo Head state? that at six o’clock last evening the fleet divided. The Melbourne division continued south and the Syd noy division turned . north. Heavy rain fell throughout th? day. Ttie. seas were short and choppy. Admirals Coontz and Robison exchanged farewell messages. While th? two divisions will meet again after the New Z- -iland \ isit the admirals will not see each other til! thrv reach Pago I>igo. It was just getting dark when with flashing search lights playing a farewell the detachments lost sight of each other. Owing to the fact that the battleships are drawing thirty feet, they will nrobhbly not enter Melbourne till high water about noon. The smaller vessels will enter earlier.

WONDERFUL WIRELESS ACHIEVEMENTS

SYDNEY. July 22. (By Radio—Special Representative of the Australian Press Association aboard the Seattle.) Yesterday afternoon an amateur wireless operator at Caterham, England, listened for twenty minutes while Lieutenant Schnell gave him an account of the fleet’s journey from Honolulu to Australia, and details of the programme of entertainment which the Australians have prepared. The amateur’s name is T. Marcuse and his

call 2NM. He was sending on 45 metres, while, Lieut. Schnell used 39. Lieut. Schnell said that Marcuse’s signals were so clear that they could be heard three feet from the earpieces. WASHINGTON, July 21. Some noteworthy performances in radio communication have been achieved in connection with dispatches from the American Fleet en route to Australia. Captain McLean, Director of Naval Communications, stated that two-way communication was established between Washington and the cruiser Seattle in the vicinity of Samoa. 'The destroyer Pope at Shanghai hold reciprocal communications with the fleet. The, Peary, the flagship of the McMillan Arctic Expedition, nearly in Labrador, heard the fleet on July 7, and an amateur at Johannesburg, South Africa, received short wave signals from the fleet in the vicinity of Hawaii.