THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9163, 11 August 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

. + REVIEW OF TROOPS. BY TM-EGRAPH —FKEhS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND. August 10. The troops were reviewed on the Domain, this afternoon, by the Governor, Lord Plunket, and Admiral Sperry. There were three thousand on parade divided into three brigades, the first being the Public School Cadets, under Lieut.-Colonel Loveday; the second, the Mounted Brigade, under Lieut-Colonel Hoigate, including the whole of the four regiments of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, and the A Battery of Fiel J Artillery. The Third Brigade was made up of the Auckland Division or* Garrison Artillery, the Ist and 2nd Infantry Battalions, and the Defence ] Cadets. The display was a splendid one, and witnessed by over 20,000 peocle. BRILLIANT ILLUMINATIONS. • AUCKLAND, August 10. Auckland was brilliantly lighted to-night. I The city itself, with the tower of Government buildings outlined in | electric lights, the mammoth "wel-j come" blazing hospitality from ; everywhere, and all the streets aglitter with myriads of lightr, outlining the most prominent buildings!' and thoroughfares, presented a rare spectable. but the great [vessels of i the fleets outlined in . lights outdid the most pretentional efforts of the city in the way of illuminations. With every spar an 3 stack outlined in lights, their names blazing from the signs on their forevard turrets, the warships looked like a glimpse into some land controlled by forces other than those of this material earth. vessel stood out distinctly in the water, which was as calm as a lake—not a wave disturbed the sur r face of the bay except those made by the small launches that darted in and out oi the circle of light around the warships. Thousands thronged along the water front to see the wonderful sight of the brightly illuminated ships, and the displays of fireworks.

0.) land the illuminations was almost as brilliant. The public offices outlined in electric lights presented a spectacle such as has seldom been seen in the city. Queen street, strung with streamers of incandescent globes, was a blaze of light. Besides the big arches at the street corners. There were festoons of lights all the way down the streets on every block.

ADMIRAL SPERRY INTERVIEWED.

LESSONS OF THE TRIP. AUCKLAND, August 10. Admiral Sperry, interviewed,'said the cruise had meant a great improvement in active work. Economy in coaling made possible trips that were net titherto possible. He could steam fro n Honolulu to Sydney without coaling—a splendid result. A similar result had been effected in regard to actual work and gunnery.

ADMIRAL SPERRY AND OFFICERS ENTERTAINED. AUCKLAND, August 10. In the evening Admiral Sperry and the officers of the American Fleet were*entertained at a banquet in the Drill Hall by the Government tf New Zealand. The large building wa3 prettily decorated, and uLout I,£oo guests sat down. i The Prime Minister presided, having on his right the Governor, and on his left Admiral Sperry. The proceedings generally were of the most enthusiastic character, and the toast of "The King," "President Roosevelt," "The Governor," "United States Navy," and "British Navy," were honoured. The Governor, in reply to the toast of his health, made a particularly happy speech, referring to the sin cerity of New Zealand's welcome to the American Fleet, and the friendship of the British Empire to the other great Anglo-Saxon people. Sir Joseph Ward, in proposing the health of Admiral Sperry, said that the navies of enlghtened nations did not exist for aggre sion or conquest but fov prjtcc ion against oppression, and for safeguarding the nation's greatest asset- its national honour. Admiral Sperry, in reply, said that the mission of the American Fleet was peace with justice, and so long as it floated undefeated, no enemy could cross the seas either to America or New Zealand. He thanked New Zealand for the magnificent re-* ception accoided to the visiting battleships.