THE WHITE FLEET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9173, 22 August 1908, Page 5

THE WHITE FLEET.

I CABLE NEWS.

United Press AsMoi.itinu—By Electric Telcgrup; Copyright,

SYDNEY FESTIVITIES. Received August 21, 2.35 a.m. SYDNEY, August 21. The round of fleet festivities was fairly launched to day. The official landing find public reception and procession of admirals and staffs and a large contingent of sailors of the fleet taking place under perfect weather conditions amid scenes of unbounded enthusiasm. From an early hour people began to gather alone the line of rout';', and long before the march past took place every inch of space where a view was obtainable was occupied. Business was practically at; a standstill. Seldom if ever has a larger and more generously demonstrative gathering been seen in Sydney. The binding of 150 officers and 2,350 sailors and marines was made at 10 o'clock at Farm Cove and Woolloomooh.o Bay. They thence marched to the outer domain. The Admiral and staffs came ashore at ] 1 o'clock at the Duke of York landing stage. The reception by the Commonwealth I'remier and Ministers, State Premier and Ministers, Lord Mayor and aldermen, took place in an artistic pavilion beautifully decorated. From the pavilion precede! by the Ministers the Admirals were driven to the reception pavilion in the outer domain to which the Governor - General and State Governor had previously driven from Government House. The Governor-General, Governor. Prime Minister, State Premier, Lord Mayor of Sydney, officially received and publicly welcomed Admiral Sperry. who replied. The scene was aided by bright sunshine with its setting of noble trees innumerable flags, gay uniforms and the enthusiastic eh.- ering of thousands.

A BRILLIANT SCENE. Receive! August 21, 3.35 p.m. SYDNEY, August 21. After the reception u procession, headed by the Fleet bands, and led by the Lord Mayor and aldermen, and followed by the Admirals and staffs in carriages, leaving the Domain bv the Ue..t Street gates pio ceeded via Macquarie College Park, Elizabeth, Bathurst and George Streets, Martin Place, Pitt Bridge and Macquarie Streets to the Mistress Macquarie's Point Domair, where the officers and men of thefieec were entertained at a picnic and lunch. The route of the streets was elaborately decorated, notably Macquarie Street, Martin Place, Citizens Avenue, Park Street, American Avenue, and Pitt Street. Venetian masts line the side or the streets, and thousands of flags (the Stars and Stripes predominating) flut er everywhere and are strung from sides of streets. Martin Place was nb"laze of colour. The tramp of marching feet was constantly punctuated and drowned with the rolling buist of cheerng as the men threaded their way thiough the sea of people packed end to end along the route. Bands stationed at various points discoursed and the people fully entered ii.to tha spirit of the welcome. ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

Received August 21, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY. August 21. Lord Northcote (Governor-General), addressing Admiral Sperry, congratulated him on his safe arrival. He fully appreciated the skill and seamanship which had pnabled him to bring the fleet over so many thousand leagues of sea to Australia. He also appreciated the kind feeling that prompted the Government of the United States to accede in so magnificent a manner to the invitation to visit the Commonwealth. They felt that from the visit Australia had much to learn, and it should be an ob ject lesson to us as to what National Defence should be and what is entailed on the people. He hoped Australia would profit by America's example. Sir Harry Rawson (Governor of New South Wales), on behalf of the State, said that as a naval officer he was pleased at the exhibition of the fleet coming here, "for," he said, "it spoke highly of your skill that should bring the fleet across and arrive in the manner you did." Sir A. Deakin, on behalf of the Commonwealth, extended the warmest greeting of kinship, and hailed the arrival of the fleet with great confidence in the results to the two great nations we represent. He trusted that in the reception accorded by some hundreds of thousands of citizens of this country, Admiral Sperry would realise that the greeting was in the essence and in truth from the whole people of Australia. Mr C. G. Wade (Premier of New South Wales) said we, in this country, feel a keen interest in the visit of the fleet, because, like you, we have sprung from English stock and have similar problems to encoun f er.