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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9086, 11 May 1908, Page 4

Wellington is making a hard bid to secure the visit of the American/fleet to Port Nicholson. The American Naval authorities have decided that the fleet shall stop at Auckland only, but it is possible that the authorities may have reckoned without their host. The question of coaling may yet necessitate at least a portion of the fleet visiting tne harbour of the Empire City, and the Wellingtonians are making much of that point. It is anticipated that the vessels will require about 20,000 tons of coal, and as there is alleged to be a shortage of coal in the Northern port it is considered doubtful if sufficient to supply the fleet could be transported there, seeing that every collier is now hard run to cope with the ordinary demand, and that practically all would have to be kept going for some tima beforehand in conveying coal to Auckland where could be stored in readiness for the fleet. If the culty of transport proves to be> insuperable it may necessitate the war vessels of "Uncle Sam" coming to. Wellington.