THE BRITISH FLEET.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1924, Page 4

THE BRITISH FLEET.

PLANS FOR WELCOME. SYDNEY, Feb. 28. The British Special Service Squadion, headed by the mighty Hood and in command of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, has made its first contact with Australian soil. In its tour of the Empire it is certain that it will find no more enthusiastic welcome than that which awaits it in Australia.

Everywhere the arrival of the Squadron is awaited with the keenest interest and enthusiasm, and committees have been hard at work in preparing all sorts ol entertainments for the officers and men. At Fremantle, the approach of the sliips was rather obscured by tli" haze caused by bush fires near the capital of the vast Western State, but every vantage point had its crowds of spectators. Perth was eft fete with an enthusiasm such as had never been witnessed before except on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of AYales. Its streets were thronged with people from miles around, one man having journeyed 1000 miles by air in order to view tile historic sights. The programme of sports and other amusements lias a strongly Australian llavour. as may be judged by the inclusion of a two days’ kangaroo hunt. This amongst other arrangements, was wirelessed to the ships, and it was seized upon with avidity.

In Sydney there will not lie very elaborate decorations, the expenditure taking a practical form of showing the visitors as much as possible of The city and its hinterland. Happily, the visit will coincide with the Royal Show, thus presenting an excellent idea of the resources of the Stale in n concentrated form. .Already accommodation in the city is heavily booked, and it is expected that there will he a record number of visitors from the country. All things are working together to make it one of the most memorable fetes in tbo city’s history., It will he the first great function lo he attended by the new Governor, Sir Dudley tie -Chair. Sir Dudley is himself a naval man with a distinguished career—a nephew, in fact, of the bhilf Sir Harry Rawson, the naval Cover, nor who is counted as one of the most popular that New South Wales has ever had—thus forming a most pleasing coincidence with the naval visit. The City Council alone is spending £3OOO in entertaining the officers and men, and the Government has prepared an elaborate programme, including sports tournaments in which picked teams from our naval and military forces will compete against representative teams from the Squadron, balls.

motor trips, ctc,_ It is expected that representatives from tlie Squadron will be present at the foundation-stone laying ceremony at the Canberra Parliament- House, and it is probable that the ceremonial sinking of R.ALA.S. Australia outside Sydney Heads will take place in the presence of the visiting ships.