The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-08-27
OUR BIG FIGHTERS
ARE NOW AT SYDNEY
Halt a Million Australians Join the
the Welcome.

l O"bicts H1diiy luuiSudy IuOfuluS
thin veil OF smoke on the horizon
signalled to the watchers on the
coast the approach OF the American
warships, and at 5.35 official notifi-
cation was sent out that the fleet
had been sighted. II was yet 20
miles outside of Sydney harbor, but
this word, which had been awaited
eagerly by the tens of thousands,
stirred Australia like a call to arms,
and almost instantly those who had
not already left the city TO take up
points of vantage along the bays
were moving in droves to line the
quays, the roof tops and other places
on the harbor front, to watch the
coming of the guardships OF the
new world.
The day broke bright and clear,
and so intense was the interest In
the American ships OF war that half
the populace remained awake the
entire night, and thousands upon
thousands of them. long before the
night was over, we're on their way
to the hilltops outside the city limits,
where they congregated seemingly In
unbroken lines along the coast from
Bondi Beach to Manly.
1t is estimated that hardly less
than half million people assembled
to give the visitors a royal welcome.
| Sydney harbor, with It's innumerable
bays, coves and branches, never
looked more beautiful, nor did the
American sailors ever witness a more
inspiring sight than that which met
their eyes as the white ships came
through the channel past the great
headlands into Port Jackson.
A hundred thousand people, the
greatest single assemblage of all,
gathered on the South heads, where
magnificent view of the whole
scene was to be had. Hundreds of
craft of all kinds moved up and
down even at that early hour, all
the waters, with the exception of
the fairway and the anchorage, be.
ing dotted with little and big ves-
sells decorated in every conceivable
manner with flags and bunting.
The feet left Auckland at 8.15
Saturday morning, and with the ex-
ception of one day had fair weather
all the way to Sydney. On Tuesday
the warships encountered heavy
winds, which threw up a stiff head
sea, greatly retarding their progress.
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 900 yards. The formation, how
ever, was not changed. No evolu-
tions were indulged in on account
of the heavy weather during this
period, but this abated the following
day, when the ships were about 100
miles from port.
Speed was then increased to IL
knots and. although the hospital
ship Relief was left behind, the 9TH
ers reached the coast on schedule
time, the Americans as anxious as
the Australians to participate in the
reception and the fetes which the
latter have prepared for them.
In perfect alignment, the flagship
Connecticut leading, with Rear Ad-
miral Sperry on the bridge, the war
ships came out of the horizon, 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 a roar of
salutes from the forts, as it steam
ed slowly along. The thousands
ashore and afoat added their cheers
to swell the noisy welcome, and
countless British and American 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
salute to the port, and as soon as
they we're safely moored at their
anchorage, official visits were ex-
changed.