THE FLEET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 427, 22 August 1908, Page 3

THE FLEET.

■ ♦- Sydney, August 20,

The morning broke clear, but before 8 o’clock a heavy smoke fog obscured the coastline. The prospects of viewing the Fleet appeared to be remote, and there was a feeling of disappointment that the visitors’ welcome would take place ou a grey morning. Even at to o’clock, little improvement had taken place. At 11 o’clock, as if the whole thing had been pre-arranged, the mist lifted like a curtain and revealed the White Fleet gleaming in the sunlight and standing towards the Heads. Along the frowning coastline north and south of the harbour opening, silhouetted against the skyline, was a serried rampart of humanity. As the flagship, Connecticut, leading the Fleet, entered close up to the North Head, a mighty cheering commenced on the South Head, which was taken up by the crowds on the North and Middle Heads. With the shrieking of the sirens and the whistles ot the flotilla of steamers, black with people, fringing the fairway, the noise was deafening. The Fleet entered in single line, the vessels moving swiftly round the Southern Head into the Eastern Channel, and gliding up the harbour at evenly spaced distances to their various berths. At every point along the harbour course huge crowds cheered the vessels as they passed. The Fleet made its bow to Australia by a salute of twenty-one guns, fired by the Connecticut as she passed Bradley’s Head, to which Fort Denison replied. Prior to entering the harbour, the Fleet manoeuvred for an hour off the lighthouse. At 11.30 a.m. it stood out and formed into line, preparatory to making its entrance. As the fog- cleared away, the sight was magnificent. The slopes of the harbour were everywhere black with humanity. Crafts of all descriptions were moored outside the fairway, all traffic being stopped. during the entrance. Without fuss each vessel steamed to her anchorage and dropped anchor. By one o’clock all were moored.

The traffic arrangements were quite unable to cope with so huge a multitude converging on the Heads, and many thousands walked the whole distance. The stream of traffic set in before daylight was properly established, and maintained an unbroken rush till 11 o’clock. By that hour practically the whole populace of Sydney and suburbs, with the influx from other States, were entrenched at every available observation point on the coast and harbour frontages and on the harbour itself.

The scene was most animated along the fairway, which was kept clear for the incoming Fleet, Everything that could float in the wa3 r of a boat was moored with its living freight, and through this avenue of craft the Fleet moved up, each ship majestically falling into its alloted place with clockworklike precision. ACCIDENT LIST, Accidents were numerous, there being very many serious tram accidents. Some seasick passengers fell overboard at the Heads, but were rescued. A man fell from the roof of a tram-car and was killed. About fifty persons are being treated at the hospitals for injuries. It is difficult to estimate the numbers who witnessed the magnificent pageant, but it is believed that fully. 400,000 viewed the spectacle. The weather is glorious. The streets were almost deserted during the reception. During their long wait, prior to the arrival of the Fleet, the spectators in the harbour were entertained with a display of daylight fireworks in the shape of bombs, which, exploding, displayed Union Jacks, birds, beasts, and other designs. The city to-night, brilliantly illuminated, with both the American and the English vessels glowing with a myriad of lamps, presents a wonderfully beautiful scene. Although the city illuminations do not reach in extent the efforts that were put forth at the time of the Commonwealth celebrations, still what has been done has been well done. One man fell over a cliff at the South Head and was killed. The Governor-General entertained at dinner the Admirals of the American Fleet, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Poore (Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Station), the Federal Prime Minister (Mr Deakin), Federal Ministers, Members of the State Ministry, Privy Councillors, and Victorian Councillors, and members of the Queensland Ministry.' The function was a brilliant one. The auxiliary ship Glaicier arrived to-night, and the Relief entered the Heads an hour later.