THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 211, 27 August 1908, Page 3

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

THE SECOND SQUADRON. New York, August 25. Admiral Swinburne's squadron liai Bailed lor its cruise ruund South Ame lie*. AIISTRAT.IIAN AND AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP. FEDERAL PREMIERS MESSAGE TO AAIEKiIA.

Melbourne, August 20. A lengtihy message from Mr. A. Deakin, Premier of the Commonwealth, U reported to have appeared in leading American papers on Thursday iaj . XIM message is now opwn for public* tioß here. After expressing his overwhelming smse oi obligation to the people of the United States for generously despatch- j ins the proud fleet of battleship, the fnme Minister declared: "Our invitation sprang solely !r.ui an earnest desire to deepen our mutual sense of kinship, sympathy, avd* solidarity; Nor can this answer tppear insufficient when it is remembered that these very sentiments aai trc proud impulses allied to them have oat of many separate States built up a, great republic, stretching from oc2.m to ocean, enormous in its range of development and with prospects illitr.t-. able.

"From tihe same sources and through similar channels here comes the (lower, shaping our sundered coloi es into one Commonwealth, enabling u-i to evoke strength equal to our \# itopportunities. "The Mother Country itself, in whose great cradle of liberty both your fnidom and ours was nursed, is meeting the strain of tar far-reaching Empire by elaborating, slowly but surely, new federal arrangements wbien iniriend, the free union of the free growing stronger as they grow together. "In the meantime, realisi.ii; tin Titihes of natural rational relation'up, iwe look instinctively and confidently to you Americans, nearest to us ip blood, in character, and in purpjso. Jt is in this spirit and in this nope tliat Australia welcomes with open and heart the coming of your sailor-' end of the flag whicb, like our on fc'J I shelters a new world under the »jynbol of its vital union. "May the present accord bet* to i the English-speaking peoples perpetual concord between us, thus pairing for the fulfilment of the A.1,-, (Cent promise of 'Peace on earth, go jdUrill towards men!'"

A NEGRO "DEALT WITH.'' .Sydney, August 26. Four American sailors from the (loot Bet upon a black sailor, also from tlie fleet, for "insulting a barmaid in a, • hotel in King strwt. The negro was terribly knocked about. His nose was broken. One kick which he receivedi nearly took off his upper lip. YESTERDAY'S FESTIVITIES. INTERESTING CHILDREN'S DEMONSTRATIONS. OMENS OF (PEACE. a rifleliatch. Received 20, 9.30 p.m. Sydney, Last Night. Hie last day of the fleet festivities Ml allotted to the children's demonstrations. The cricket ground proved far too small to accommodate the immense gathering of spectators, whi.di included many Americans. Eight thousand scholars of the public schools, dressed in red, white, and blue, went through various exercises and' tableau vivants representing the words "Hail, Columbia" and immense American ami Australian flags. • During the ceremony five thousand : white pigeons were liberated. A rifle match took place between the American fleet and Rifle Association Council's teams, twenty men a-side, the ranges being 200, 500, and 600 yards. The match was won by the Americans with a score of 1884, the Australians scoring 1755. The fleet leaves at 11 o'clock in the morning. The Powerful and Challenger sailed for Melbourne to-day to be ready for the welcome of the fleet there. JAPAN'S RECEPTION. A WARM RECEPTION BESPOKE 7" Received 28, 11.45 p.m. Tokio, August 20. The semi-official journals in Tokio bespeak the warmest reception to Ad miral Sperry's fleet by the Government and the people of Japan. FAREWELL FRATERNISING. ■ PRESSMEN ENTERTAINED. K; . Received 27, 1.12 a.m. Sydney, Last Night. ' The city and fleet were illuminated to-night. Great crowds were making the most of the final opportunity of fraternising with the visitors* The Government officially welcomed the American and other visiting and Sydney pressmen at a luncheon in tlie Town Hall.. Premier Wade presided. One hundred and fifty prominent pressmen were present. The American journalists' spokesmiu. replying to the complimentary speeches, said: "You have overdone it. You have kept us so busy in connection with Social obligations that we have had no . time to write, hut rest assured that within the next three months the United States will know more about you thin was ever known before."