The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-20
FLEET REACHES
SYDNEY HARBOR
Half a Million Australians on
Shore Cheering Amer
lean Sailors.
PEOPLE AWAKE ALL NIGHT
EARLY IN THE MORNING THE
WARSHIPS WE'RE SIGHTED.

<<<<<<<%<$<<
y London. Aug. GA special dispatch y
\ to the Daily Chronicle from Sydney y
+ says:
y "A sensational hitch OF internation- y
y al Importance has arisen in connec-
y ton with the ceremonial procession =
\ of the American sailors through the \
\ streets of Sydney on Friday"
y The Chronicles correspondent adds 4
\ that the nature OF the hitch is strict \
y ly confidential for the present" y
+<<%+<<<<<<<< <<<<<
Sydney. n. S. W., Aug. 20.-Early this
morning a thin veil of smoke on the hori-
zon signaled to the watchers on the coast
the approach OF the American warships,
and at 5:35 official notification was sent
out that the fleet had been sighted. 1t
was yet twenty miles outside of Sydney
harbor. but this word. which had been
awaited eagerly by tens of thousands,
stirred the Australians like a call to
arms. and almost instantly those who had
not left the city to take up points or
vantage along the bay were moving in
droves to line the quays. roof tops and
other places on the harbor front to watch
the coming of the guardships from the
new world.
intense was the interest In the American
ships of war that half the populace re-
manned awake the entire night, and thou
sands upon thousands of them long be-
fore the night was over were on their way
to the hill tops outside the city limits,
where they congregated seemingly in un-
broken lines along the coast from Bondi
Beach to Manly.
Cheers From 100000 Threats.
It is estimated that hardly less than
100000 people assembled to give the visit
orc oil al Sx-Ar hnr HOY xxyifh
its innumerable bays and coves, never
looked more beautiful. nor did the Amer
jean sailors ever witness a more inspir-
ing sight than that which met their eyes
as the white ships came through the chan
mel past the great headlands into Port
jackson
A hundred thousand people. the greatest
single assemblage of all, gathered on the
south heads. where a magnificent view
of the whole scene was to be had Hun
dreds Of craft of all kinds moved up and
down even at that early hour all the
waters. with the exception of the fair
way and anchorages, being dotted with
little and big vessels decorated in every
conceivable manner of flags and bunt-
Ing.
Retarded by Winds.
The fleet left Auckland at SIS Sunday
morning, and with the exception of one
day had fair weather all the way to sgd
ney. On Tuesday the warships encoun-
tered heavy winds, which threw up stiff
head sea. greatly retarding their prog
ress. Throughout Tuesday night the high
seas caused the larger of the ships to roll
at least 20 degrees. while the auXiliaries
suffered even more severely. There was
considerable discomfort for all the men,
and the intervals between the vessels were
increased TO 600 yards. The formation
however. was not changed. No evolutions
were INDUCED in on account of the heavy
weather during this period, but this abated
the following day. when the ships were
about l60 miles from port.
Entering the Harbor.
Speed was then increased to 70 knots
an hour. and although the hospital ship
Relief was left behind, the others reached
the coast on schedule time. the Americans
as anxious as the Australians TO partici-
pate in the reception and the fetes which
the latter have prepared for them.
In perfect alignment. the flagship Con-
necticut leading. with Rear Admiral Sper-
ry on the bridge. the warships came out
of the horizon. at first little smoke
showing. and then the hulls. low down in
the distance.
Passing in through the Sydney heads
in double column. at intervals of 400 yards
the ships looked to have a world of speed
and power under their glistening sides.
The fleet was attended by convoy steam
ers and was greeted with roar OF sa-
along. The thousands ashore and afloat
added their cheers to swell the noisy well
come. and countless British and Ameri-
can flags were flung to the breeze and
were still waving long after the anchors
had been swung from the sides.
The American ships doomed forth sa
lutte to the port. and as soon as they
were safely moored at their anchorage,
official visits were exchanged.
Through Thick Haze.
For a portion OF the latter part of the
voyage when only within few miles of
Sydney, a thick haze set in. which. al
though II lifted at times, necessitated
slow speed in coming up TO the heads.
About 10 o'clock, however. the fleet ma
glided out of the gloom and
the south head station sent up a signal of
The Connecticut led the fleet. which now
stretched out in single file a distance of
about two miles. The warShips steered
up in the bright sunshine and turned sea-
ward. completed a magnificent curve at
4 speed of about six knots. and when the
flagship reached the heads at las the
asst ship was four miles away.
Officers Enthusiastic.
Officers on board the battleships were