AMERICAN NAVALS.

Shannon News, 14 August 1925, Page 4

AMERICAN NAVALS.

PARADE CHRISTCHURCH STREETS CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. Seven hundred men from the American destroyers paraded in the city this morning. The rain held off and large crowds lined the streets and repeated the demonstrations of enthusiasm en itoute. Admiral Schofield, with Colonel Young, took the salute in Cranmer Square.

STATE LUNCHEON. WELLINGTON THE ’FRISCO OF THE SOUTH. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN HAPPY VEIN. WELLINGTON, Last Niglit. Admiral Coontz and the principal officers were tendered an official luncheon my the Government in the afternoon, at the Town Hall. Great enthusiasm was manifested The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J G. Coates) presided and the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Ferg'nsson) was present.

There was an outburst of enthusiasm when Admiral Coontz rose. He opened * with a word of praise for Wellington’s harbour and the weather which had favoured the squadron's arrival. In passing, h e declared this city reminded him of San Francisco, by reason of its situation and the amount of land its people bad found it necessary to reclaim along its seafront. Admiral Coontz pointed out that the greatest citiies of the Unied States were along a belt a little above the fortieth parallel, corresponding with the latitude of Wellington in the Southern Hemisphere and his men found it nowhere near the South Pole. (Laughter.) “You’re a wonderful country,’’ said Admiral Coontz. When they read of the wonderful wealth per capita, and the health ol’ New Zealand, they understood what a splendid country it was. New Zealand was a country in which, a. man who wanted to work could make a success of life. The United States had a population of 110 millions. He believed the prosperity of his'country was due to the influx of the white peoples from Europe, but it was the sturdy type of its pioneers that laid the foundations of that prosperity. Admiral Coontz said he admired the pioneers who fared forth and adventured into unknown lands . and established new countries. New Zealand and Australia had the same experience in this respect as America. Even in his own day, pioneers had gone out in slowmoving ships on long voyages, living on hard tack and knowing often what real privation meant Here he let fall an aside that fairly brought down the house, when he remarked with a twinkle in his eyes, visible even through a thick smoke-screen going up from hundreds of cigars that “Conditions had so changed in some parts of the world that hard tack has become a very scarce commodity”) The Admiral continued that h e liked the look of New Zealand, its people and of Wellington Harbour, adding quizzically that good harbours were getting scarce. (Laughter.) People had not looked ahead enough. Even the Panama Canal had barely allowed the battle cruiser Hood to pass through. New Zealand was interested deeply in refrigeration and transportation and as the ships grew in size to carry her produce, only the best harbours would be of use.

The Admiral said the Premier had spoken highly of the United States. Well, he felt proud of the United States ,the motto of which was “A square deal for everyone." This had been their aim in freeing Cuba from local tyrannies and in Nicaragua. She hoped also to secure better conditions for Hayti in the near future. America only desired to see all nations of the world dwelling together in peace and unity. New Zealand aready had overwhelmed his men with the hospitality offered and all would take away wonderful memories of their sojourn here, which would be told over and over again when they got home. He thanked the New Zealanders for the -welcome extended and the entertainment provided, which exceeded their liveliest anticipations.

The proceedings closed with the British and American National Anthems.

Members of the Harbour Board party, which called on Admiral Coontz oh the Seattle yesterday afternoon were greeted with enthusiasm also by the Navigating Commander with the remark, "in my thirty-two years of experience. I have never seen a finer bit of seamonship than -was shown by your hai-bourmaster, Captaip Dawson, in bringing the ships to the wharf.” Equal appreciation has been expressed by officers of the other thre ships of the manner in which they were brought gently to the wharves. Later in the afternoon the matron and nurses of the hospital ship Relief were the guests of the Trained

Nurses Association at the latter’s rooms.