WELCOME HOME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 30, 6 October 1913, Page 5

WELCOME HOME.

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

SYDNEY'S RECEPTION.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyrightj [United Press Association.]

Sydney, October 4

Australia is to-day celebrating a notable event, welcoming the nucleus oi her first war fleet to its home waters. The declaration of a public holiday, combined with brilliant weather, greatly assisted the efforts of the authorities in making the function an impressive red-letter day in the history oi the Commonwealth. From the city itself, aglow with bunting and greenery, from widespread suburbs and country districts, people commenced pouring at an earl? hour to the harbour frontages anc outer cliffs, massing in the parks and other points of vantage, until by the time the first warship, moving in stately procession off the coast, made it? appearance in the.distant offing, the whole line of the.cpast of the harbour from beyond Bondi to the anchorage around at Farm Cove was black with humanity.' The waters of the harbo were alive .with, decorated craft of al descriptions, and intense enthusiasir ruled everywhere. ' ! Bands were stationed at intervals enlivening the proceedings. It was a fine spectacle as the line, headed by the Australia, followed by the Sydney, Melbourne, the Encoun ter, the Werregp, the Yarra, and the Paramatta at regular intervals, swung round and entered the Heads and slowly steamed down the harbor to the anchorage. The fleet was greeted with wide-wafted cheers from themultitude, the strains of bands and ringing of bells. A large choir of public school children stationed near the Heads sang patriotic songs with r deafening chorus. Hundreds of steau crafts' welcoming whistles stopper while the singing was in progress.

The fleet entered at 10.30 a.m. Steamers 'conveying the Federal and State Ministers and other distinguish ed persons met the fleet outside th* Heads and followed it in.

ENTHUSIASTIC PROCEEDINGS.

Sydney, October 5

As the fleet proceeded down the liar bor it was saluted by the big guns o •H.M.S. Cambrian. During tho afternoon many officers and men visited the ■Randtvick,ra«es. Great crowds viewed tbai ' harbor were illumiiia#d,! Publfd: ahdmany private were, ablazp, with illuminations, there being many fine displays. A'-¥en6t'ian carnival' was held in the harbor, the warships being beautiflilly outlined. M hey gavt a great searchlight display.!-. '.. ! Lord Denman, Governor-General presided at a b-'tliant representative gathering at a Federal Governmen banquet in the Town,, Hall at nighty in honor of Admira. Patey and hi: officefst . The proceedings and tlr speeches were marked with loyal en-. thusiasm.

AUSTRALIA'S PRIDE.

Sydney, October o.

The speakers at the Town Hall banquet included the Governor, Sir Geralc Strickland, K.C.M.G.; Mr Cook, M Fisher, the Minister for Defence, aw Admirals Patey and King-Hall. Th keynote of the speeches was Austra lia's pride in the possession of ho own fleet and the importance .of tlr duty involved as a unit in Empirdefence. Lord Denman said that that da: they had reached the parting of th ways, because the Australian navr station was handed over by the Imper ial authorities to the Commonwealth and Australia teok up its own burdei in naval matters.

Admiral King-Hall, whose flag waf hauled down when Admiral Patey' i flag was hoisted when the fleet arrived bid an affectionate farewell to the people of Australia. He said an historic and unique period had arrived in the life of the Commonwealth. She had now to act as warden of the mar dies to protect the outposts of thf Empire in the Pacific, . The time would come when the statesmen of the Empire must envolve a method whereby the dominions will be brought into closer relationship in the councils of the Mother Country, especially regarding the.naval defence of the Empire.

To-day large sections of the officer 1 , and men of the fleet attended church parades, marching along crowded streets. The ships were opened to the puhlic, and crowds visited them.