FLEET SAILS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18424, 3 July 1925, Page 9

FLEET SAILS.

NO CEREMONIES. CITY TURNS OUT TO WATCH. IzY CHSIX~VRT.SS ASSOCIATIOX-COrTRIGIIT.) v (better's telegeams.) HONOLULU, July 1. The American Fleet has sailed. The Fleet will proceed from here as a unit to within a day's sail of Australia, . where it will divide, one detachment #' proceeding to Melbourne, arriving on July 23rd, and the other going to Sydney.

(AUSTRALIA:,- AXfl K.Z. CABLT. ASSOCIATION.) (By Kadio Aboard U.S.S. Seattle.) Tlio people of\ Honolulu turned out en masse to watch the great fleet go out . to sea. Diamond Head, a high hill off Waikiki beach, was crowded with hundreds of persons, while the beach itself was jammed with spectators who viewed the massed vessels moving towards their secret rendezvous off Oahu, in intrieato formation. Tho squadrons of air machines escorting tho fleet deepened the effect of this simulated war-timo sortie. The morning was misty, and soft rains, characteristic here, fell at intervals. Thoro were no official ceremonies, due to the theoretical condition under Which thO fleet was leaving, and no guns were fired, all salutes having been prohibited. It was all part of the announced plan to make tho departure part of tha greater war games which began several months ago with the Hawaiian manoeuvres. It is now indicated that, during the journey to Australia, tho vcssols, during periods of the run, will steam without lights in order to intensify the difficulty of navigation such as face a fleet during actual warfare. Tho ships increased their speed to fifteen knots (although the run to Australia will be at eleven) in order to hasten the meeting at sea and assume cruising formation before darkness fell, ThO various ships' crews gave farewell dancea to their officers in the town last night, and greater shore liberty was accorded. This enabled thousands ot men end officers to eelobrato their . loavo-taking, making tho last night in nort one of the gayest.

» LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS. AUTHORISED AND SUBSIDISED, £he Town Clenk (Mr J. S. Neville) |y "ylperday received tho following teler gram from Mr J. Jlislop, Under-Secre-tary for Internal Affairs: — "The Government will validate contributipjjji by public bodies towards the cwt of entertaining the officers and mien of the American Sheet, The Governjntot will also contribute a certain Wyrant towards expenses incurred on a . poijnd for pound subsidy basis. If you will forward immediately an estimate of th© total amounts that will be expended, I thb: matter will receive consideration together with applications from other -Centres."

tSAVY LEAGUE'S ACTION. ■ ■• '*' ■ '' .\. ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE SET UP. At last night's meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League, at which Mr y7, Walton presided, the secretary asked the chairman if the League intended doing anything towards the entertainment of the men of the American Fleet, a portion of which would visit Lyttolton shortly. The League b»d been offered tho Winter Garden for one evening for a ball, Ho suggested •tbftt in addition to the big dance, the League should give a number of social evenings in the hall to parties of officers from the ships. There would be about 130 officer? in all with that section of tho Fleet visiting Lyttelton. Ho soggested that a sub-committee be ;»ct up to go into the matter, . .It was decided that Mesdarues Algar \V4lliarils, Norton Francis, Wyatt, Miss Cresswell, Lieutenant-Commanders Boyle «JJd Tebbs, retired, and Mr D. Manson be appointed a sub-committee to arrange .for the officers' entertainment.

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

, KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST. (reo« OUS OWH COttBESPOKDBHT.) SYDNEY, Juno 26. With the arrival of the United State? Fleet, scheduled for less than foiir weeks from to-day, keen publio interest is being taken in tho arrangements for the visit. Memories of the cruiso of 1908" are baing recalled, and many people are looking forward to ! 'renewal of friendships formed then with young American officers, who now, of course, are in senior positions. Tho ~ arrangements in tho three capitals to &f.m visited by units of the Fleet have been under the joint control of the federal Government and tho State ; ; wvernments concerned. Expenses are -being equally shared, and all invitations are being issued in the joint i names oP the two Governments. A fillip to public interest in this citv was given this week by tho publication or the official programme. When Labour was returned to offieo at the recent elections, tho question arose as to . whether the new Ministry would aoido by the decisions of th 0 old Nationalist Ministry in regard to entertainments, as it was thought that tho expressed , labour view of opposition to the visit of war vessels might persuade Mr .Langs colleagues tb take a narrow 'v e -*"'ii 1 at doubt ' however, has been dispelled, arid Sydney is certain to welcome the visitors, with a Labour Government ]n power, as handsomely as less Radical States. jiltjt* 1? y °, f Fleet ' s "rival, fffr *«** officials will pay of! ■ ■ SS.SSIl S ♦K-. the ~? B iti» » Admits im--S&T it ey J he - a nch <*s have dropped, and tha Admirals will return thecal! to the Governor and Chief Justice at Government House, the Premier and Government's represen-

at foot of nexTMlamajr

tativo at tho Premier's offieo, and the Lord Mayor at the Town Hall. Early in tho afternoon, *he Admiral and senior officers will make their landing at tho historic Man-o'-War steps, and a route march through tho city will follow. At night there will bo a combined Commonwealth and State dinner at tho Town Hall, a ball to petty officers and men at one of Sydney's best-known dancing resorts, and a dance by the American Society to the officers at one of the city's most splendid hotels. A lunch by the Commodoro of tho Royal Australian Navy aboard tho Sydney will be the feature of the second day, other items being receptions at Parliament House and by the snglish-Speak-ing Union, a smoko social- to warrant officers at the Town Hall, and a dance at Government House* The Admirals will bo entertained at luncheon by tho Australian Jockey Club on the Saturday at its new Warwick Farm course, all ranks .being invited to this race meeting, a' trotting meeting, and to all sports. The sailors themselves will provide two baseball teams to meet the pick of New South Wales. At night the always uPbpular iLrwworks display, Venetian Carnival, and searchlight'display will bo given ,011 tho harbour. Other sportin:: contests in which the visitors will participate will bo boxing and rifle shooting matches. On other occasions there will bo dinners, balls. a mounted paper chase, a military tattoo, and many other entertainments to prove to Uncle Sam that Sydney .. Ik have wellmerited their renown 'or hospitality.