THE AMERICAN FLEET

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 6

THE AMERICAN FLEET

Funds for the entertainment of the American fleet are now coming in more freely in Sydney. The American battleship fleet, of sixteen vessels, under the command of Admiral Sperry, has sailed from Honolulu for Auckland, where the warships are due on August 9. The Government Commissioners (Messrs. T. E. Donne and T. H. Hamer) have taken over their new offices in the City Chambers, where more commodious apartments have been furnished for their use. The room for the visiting Press representatives is situated close to the Commissioners’ offices, and is now being comfortably furnished for use. It will accommodate about 20 journalists. The Governor leaves Napier for Auckland on Wednesday for the fleet festivities. The Australasian Squadron. His Worship the Mayor has received the following memo, from the Prime Minister:— After giving full consideration to the request of the New Zealand Government, his Excellency the Governor advises me that the f.-ords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided that it would be impracticable for the Australian squadron to be present at Auckland during the visit of the United States fleet, but adds that the Commander-in Chief will, if possible, be at Auckland on the arrival of the United States fleet, and in the event of his unavoidable absence, the senior officer in New Zealand will be present. Accident on the Kearsage. The bursting of a steam pipe badly injured five sailors on the battleship Kearsarge, 11.520 tons (one of the vessels that is to visit Auckland), while she was lying in Honolulu Harbour. Parliamentary Visit. The following are the members of Parliament who will make the visit to Auckland for fleet week: — House of Representatives: Messrs. Alison. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Baumc, Dollard, Carroll, Chapple, Colvin, Dillon, Duncan, Field, Flatnian, Fowlds, Fraser, Hall, Graham, Greenslade, Guinness, Hanan, Hardy, Heke, Hogan, Hogg, Houston, Izard, Jennings, Kaihau, Kidd, Lang, Laiirenson, La wry, Lethbridge, McGowan, McLachlan, Major, Malcolm, Mandcr,

Massey, Millar, Milla, Ngata, Okey, Pooler Poland, Remington, Rhodes, Seddon, Sir W. J. Steward, Sir Joseph Ward, Messra. Stallworthy, Thompson, Wood. Legislative Council: Messrs. Anstey, Beehan, Callan, Carncross, Findlay, Gilmer, George, Holmes, Jenkinson, Johnston, Jones, Louisson, Luke, Macdonald, McCardle. Marshall, Sir G. M. O’Rorke, Messrs. Pere, Samafl, Scotland, Sinclair, Smith, Thompson, Trask, Mahuta, Wherowhero. The President on the Cruise. President Roosevelt, addressing a gathering of naval men at Newport, said that the American battleship fleet’s cruise round South America showed the reality of the Monroe doctrine. He wanted a first-class fighting navy or none at all. A purely defensive navy was almost worthless. Tlie eoasts must be protected by fortifications, enabling the navy to seek out and destroy the enemy.