THE GREAT WHITE FLEET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9176, 27 August 1908, Page 5

THE GREAT WHITE FLEET.

CHILDREN'S DEMONSTRATION. ! Received August 26, 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, August 26. The last day of the fieec festivities was allocted to a children's demonstration on the Cricket Ground, which proved far too small to accommodate the immense gathering of spectators, including many Americans. Eight thousand scholars from the public schools dressed in red, white and blue went through various exercises. A tableau vivant represented the words "Hail Columbia," and immense American and Australian flags. • During the ceremony 5,000 white pigeons were liberated. A rifle match between the American fleet,and the Rifle Association Council's team of twentv men was won by the Americans with a score of 1,884. The Australians scored 1,'.55. The fleet will leave at 9 o'clock in l te morning. H M.S. Powerful and Challenger sailed for Melbourne to-day in order to bo ready to welcome the fleet there.

WARM RECEPTION PROMISED IN JAPAN. Received August 26, 11.45 p.m. TOKIO, August 26. Semi-c.Ticial journals at Tokio bespeak tb > warmest reception for Admiral Sp rry's fket by the Government anu people of Japan. PRESSMEN ENTERTAINED. Received August 27, 1.12 a.m. SYDNEY. August 26. The city and fleet were illuminated to-night, great crowds making the most of the final opportunity of fratorntei-g Tith the visitors. The Covcinmei.t officialy welcomed the American and other visitors and Sydney pressmen at a luncheon at the Town Hall. Mr Wade (Premier) presided, and 150 prominent pressmen were present. The American journalists' spokesman, in replying to complimentary speeches made, said: "You have overdone it and kept us so busy in connection with social obligations, that we have had no time to write; but rest assured that within the next three months the United States will know more about you than she had ever known before."