THE AMERICAN FLEET IN AUCKLAND AN- IMPOSING SPECTACLE

New Zealand Tablet, 13 August 1908, Page 23

THE AMERICAN FLEET IN AUCKLAND AN- IMPOSING SPECTACLE

The much-talked-of -and. long-expected fleet of- United States; battleships arrived in Auckland on Sunday . morning. ■ Theweather was all that could- be desired, and consequently the .fleftt. <of sixteen battleships as it entcted the harbor presented a spectacle which has never previously been - witnessed in any port of this' Dominion. The .citizens, of -Auckland had. been making preparations for the reception -of .the fleet for- several days; with -the result that 'he. northern capital, with its triumphal arches,^ flags, banners, and bun.ting, presented .a most festive appearance. From an eacly • hour crqwds^.of. citizens and visitors occupied points of vantage along fjiet Jiarbdr" so as,, to catch a first glimpse of the fleet. Contrary to general expectation, the first : of r the battleships entered the harbor about 8 o'clock. It was- a glorious morning. An. Auckland August day- has rarely broken so beautifully as this one broke." The rain that had been feared held off, and- instead there was a sky of glorious blue and a warm sun. It was a day of days in every sense. The, great „ _s - -

white ships, coming slowly round "the-head- in single. file, flashed in th« sunlight lilce things of beauty. 'It was a majestic spectacle, and the. firing of salutes — the -fort salute and its acknow-. ledgment, an exchange of salutes "between the American, fleet and the ships of the Australasian squadron lying in the harbor — was stirring to a degrde. The monster guns rang out on the clear,. -" crisp air with a mighty sound, and .the sound, echoed and revibrated in the hills. A great" cheer" broke . from scores of thousands of .throats, and as"the- band's, ".which -had gone down-; in some of the steamers that met the battleships,, struck up the people grew wild with enthusiasm, and cheer after cheer went up.

It was wonderful to see these ships— how they marched like soldiers of a well-trained army. - - Everything was done with" clock-like precision. Their fame had spread before them in this connection, and it was . known of them long before that they were a great piece of machinery, wherein- everything is ordered well and everything does exactly what is reqxiired of it. But it was something to see it done — it was astonishing. As hasbeen stated, the battleships came in single file in a long extended line, the one behind the other. The pace was dead slow, and " each ship seemed to be separated from the other by exactly the same stretch of water, and' as' they slowly crept to their anchorage, each taking up its allotted place in, the harbor, tne could not fail to be struck with the marvellous handling of thes. % great • white beauties.

All the manoeuvres were carried, out. with mathematical accuracy. Here were the mighty, ponderous battleships of the American nayy — 16 majestic ships of war, costing 20 millions — - being manipulated as if the .work was a mere bagatelle.

At half-past 8 the Government steamer Tutanekai, with t!n: Prime Minister, members of Parliament, and others on board, proceeded down the harbor, circled round the fleet, viewing all the warships at close quarters, pennants being dipped on both sides. In the afternoon Sir "Joseph Ward, accompanied by- ihe_ Hons. J. McGowajVj. J. A. Millar, and Dr. Findlay, made .-in official call on the Admiral. Immediately on the fleet" beingmoored the Admiral proceeded to the British flagship to call upon the Vice-Admiral (Sir Richard Poore). Admiral Sperry then landed and called on his Excellency the Governor.

The following message was given by Admiral Sperry to the people of New Zealand : — ' lam very glad to have the pleasure of visiting New Zealand, and appreciate very much the enthusiastic and cordial reception giveH to -the United States fleet. 1 regret very much that we have" been unable to visit any oth-;r portion of your fine Dominion, and 1 send friendly greetings to the people of New Zealand.'

The official landing of Admiral Sperry and his officers took place on Monday morning. The Hon. E. Mitchelson, chairman of the Harbor Board, and several members of the same body met the Admiral at- theJ landing stage under a beautifullydecorated canopy, and conducted them to the dais, where they were awaited by the Prime Minister and members of the Ministry, the Speaker of the House of .Representatives, the_Leadcr of the Opposition^ «nd the principal military commanders of the Dominion, Lady Ward, and several other ladies. When Admiral Sperry and, four other Admirals had mounted the dais, Sir Joseph Ward read the address intended for President Roosevelt, and presented the handsome casket which contained it. The address eulogised President Roosevelt as one who represented the best traditions of common blood and civilisation, and was bincerely honored by all New Zealanders. ' This casket,' said Sir Joseph, in handing it to- Admiral Sperry, ' consists of our own gold, our own silver, our own wood, our own workmanship.' '_ -*. Admiral Sperry, in reply, said : 'No greeting could appeal more strongly to President Roosevelt than this from a people small in number but great in achievement The beautiful- present typifies everything that is good, in national life. ' - Then followed a speech of welcome by his Excellency ' the -• Governor at the Military Hall, .after which came the citizens' address, read by the Mayor, and then the Admiral's reply. In - the afternoon there was a volunteer review in the Domain. *■ The banquet, held in the "Military Hall in the evening, was perhaps the most important public function in' connection with the visit of the fleet. The large hall was beautifully* decorated with flags and native plants. To the strains . of the British National anthem, the Governor, the Prime Minister, Admiral Sperry, and the other American Admirals, and Admiral Poore and his officers entered the- hall, and- took their seats.- .The function^ 'was -a brilliant'-. success, undoubtedly the most brilliant and interesting of its kind" ever" held"" in New "Zealand. The speeches were * excellent, -especially -those j -of the Governor, the"

Trime Minister, and -Admiral Sperry. Each was : cheered .to the echo. " " " "-.> ". ' Writing on Monday- night, the special correspondent of 'Otago Daily Times' says :—' The 'illuminations were extremely fine, and Queen street," looking back'from the fine arch that spans the foot of the hill, % was a brilliant avenue.' of colored lights, with delicate waving tracing of foliage. The most effective illuminations, .among -many beautiful designs, .was' that in front" of Ehrenfried's Buildings, " N.Z." outlined- in green, the cities marked with red light, and from each city lights running constantly to " Hail', Columbia ". at the top".' From the hill near Admiralty House last night a wonderful sight spread itself- out. The skeletons of the battleships outlined in fire lay on the dusky water, and a chain of golden sparks indicated the further shore. ■From each ship four searchlights played on.- the city, revealing the wall of watching faces up the hill . with pitiless clearness, and playing quaint pranks with the heavy clouds across, the ever-moving fans of light. -From the "railway -wharf rose exquisite rockets, -trails of fire ending in a cactus-like blossom of varied -colored lights of- emerald, sapphire, and rub}'. There was not much variety about the fireworks, but the, whole effect of The '„- \golden. fleet, the curving rockets, and the-' moving searchlights was wonderful. • There were "many weary' mothers and tired children among the crowd, who yet found spirit to "admire the ,fine effects.' CATHOLICS IN THE FLEET. (By Telegraph from, our own correspondent.) August io.. After the arrival of the American fleet in the harbor- on Sunday Masses were celebrated on board the flagship Connecticut by Rev. Father Gleeson— one at half-past 8 o'clock and another at ii o'clock. There are 4500 Catholics among the officers and men of the fleet ;- twenty-five per cent, of the officers are Catholks, whilst Rear-Admiral Emory is a most devout Catholic. While .visiting South , American ports, on both ..coasts, the Catholics -of .i'the fleet. went ashore, and-in a hady recei\pl" Holy Communion. There ore in all five chaplains in the fleet of equal rank, one of whom is a Catholic. The-- other four say prayers every -morning' on the ships, at which all denominations attend. Father , Gleeson says prayers every morning on the Connecticut, at which all denominations attend. At sea Father Gleeson celebrates Mass every morning on ..the flagship, but in port he visits all the' re- - gaining ships of the fleet, and celebrates .Mass. ' In the American Navy are six Catholic chaplains, Father Gleeson being senior. <■ He .takes part in all functions, is a particular friend of Admiral Evans, who commenced this tour and insisted that Father Gleeson should be stationed on the flagship. The^Presidents of the South American Republics paid special honor to Father Gleeson. On the flagship are 300 Catholics, .of whom Father Gleeson speaks in the highest terms. They are^he, says> attentive to their religious duties, and thoroughly amenable to" discipline. - Father Gleeson was born in -New York of Irish parents^ was ; educated at Mount Melleray, Waterford, and is now attached to the New York archdiocese. . He speaks Gaelic fluently. -He has been at sea for five" years, and 1 has spent seven years altogether in the navy. His parents have returned to Ireland,' and are now residing at Waterford. l Father Gleeson attended the Cathedral "on Sunday evening, gave Benediction, and at the conclusion addressed the" corigrega- . tion and said : ' Ours is a Church that cannot be denied. Within a comparatively short space of time we "have travelled over m'anv ■ seas and visited many -countries, arid have always found ourselves at home in God's own Church, and with God's own priests Jand . people, whether in the north, south, east, or^west. To-day when.' "we entered your' beautiful harbor arid city' I felt as much at home as if in my own dear New York. My "position is an unique one in that my parish is a floating one, and the officers and, men comprising it will rank amongst the best "to be found anywhere. We comprise one-third of the whole, 'and _between us "and "the majority the very best feeling exists. To our sailors I ask you, my Catholic people, to extend a hearty welcome, and in return " they will show their gratitude by leaving you with sincere regret, and with reputations untarnished. Are we not of' one common " stock? Our visit to New Zealand has Seen eagerly looked forward to, and we -trust .ft -may lead to nYany- other visits, and thereby unite the bonds" of friendship between that great country to which I proudly proclaim, my allegiance and this great Dominion. For the special privilege Of addressing you, my dear friends, to-night I have to thank your Administrator"," Rev. Father Meagher, who hails from the same' town in dear old : -lreiand ; whence my ancestors came. In conclusion, I ask you to remember me in your prayers that God may grant me grace and strength to worthily, fill my very - onerous position.'