New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
STATE DINNER GIVEN
FOR SENIOR OFFICERS,
Joint Toast to King and President
Drunk at Melbourne.

Melbourne Aug 29.-The first day of the So
lourn of the American feet has spec
tacular ceremony. as Monday is the day set for
the formal landing and the public reception.
Sunday is free, entertainments or calls hav-
ing been scheduled for that day
After the imposing progress of the American
warships through Port Philip Bay this morning
TO their anchorage in HObSons Bay, where they
ue white and glistening off 81. klldar Admiral
Sperry the commander in chief, accompanied
by the members of his staff landed at the St
kida pier at $3.50 o'clock. At the wharf the
Americans We're escorted carriages and
driven four miles through the suburbs into
Melbourne proper The streets were lined with
crowds. who cheered the visitors all the way.
Reaching the city boundary they crossed
Princes Bridge, which is ornamented with a
statue of Queen Victoria. over the Yarra into
Melbourne proper Here is the beginning Of the
profuse and effective street decorations in honor
of the Americans The admiral proceeded, to
the continuous cheers of the crowd along Swan
ston and Collins streets. past the Town Hall to
the Treasury Building, where he called formally
upon the Governor of Victoria Gibson Car
michael who on behalf of the state. cordially
welcomed the American officers
This formality over, the Admiral returned to
his flagship by the route. The Governor
later in the afternoon returned the visit. and
was received on board the flagship with appro-
priHte honors.
An Australian official who went down the bay
on board the government steamer to meet the
warships, says the sight of them steaming slow
ly forward in perfect formation was one of sur
prising grandeur. First dense volume of
smoke heralded their approach over the hori-
aon. Then Ia the course of twenty minutes or
half hour their cleaning white hulls were in
plain view the sunlit sea The distance
maintained between the ships throughout the
evolutions that brought them TO anchor were
perfect and varied. After their stately
progress up the bay these sixteen warships,
representing a degree of sea power never before
seen in the Southern Hemisphere. anchored in g
double line off Melbourne. As soon as they were
at rest tn government and other steamers that
had taken part in the marine welcome circled
around the American warships, their bands
playing the American national anthem.
The principal function of the evening was a
state dinner TO the senior officers of the Ameri-
can fleet at Government House. Forty covers
were laid. and the guests included the British
and American admirals, the senior officers and
the federal and state ministers. The Governor
of Victoria proposed the healths of King Ed
ward and President Roosevelt jointly. after
which, the English and American national an
thems played by the band.
The government gave state banquet at Par
lament House in honor of American journalists
in Australia, at which two hundred OF the local
newspaper men also guests. Premier Bent
presided.
Tonight there a preliminary lighting up
of the public buildings primarily to see that
everything was in working order. The result
was most striking. and the big illumination
scheduled for Monday promises to be most beau
tiful The streets of Melbourne were packed
with persons. all out TO take part in the welcome
TO the Americans, until late hour tonight