New-York tribune., 1908-08-26
FLEET READY To SAIL
THE .1DMIR4LS ON BO1RD.
SOurenirs from the Connecticut
athletic Games.

Sydney. ~ S w. Aug 26.-Rear Admiral
Sperry commander of the American fleet and
the other admirals returned board the ships
to-day Arrangements now being completed
for the departure for Melbourne early tC-1nor-
row morning The British cruisers Powerful
and Challenger sailed this morning for Mel
bourne.
One hundred Of the officers and men made an
excursion to-day to Parramatta for the purpose
of receiving Illuminated address which the
residents desired to present to Admiral Sperry
They remained there for some time, enjoying
view OF tie district and points of historical in
. terest
After the recent reception on board the bat
tleshp Connecticut, It was found that large
number OF the spoons and forks, which bore the
name of the flagship were missing. Ihey were
probably taken mementos. but the officers.
accustomed to such things, charitably suggest
that they were eaten with the ices and cake
Sydney. Aug. pa gymkhana was held az
the Royal Agricultural Society's grounds to-
day and the athletic events attracted large
crowd The programme began at II o'clock ir.
the morning and the contests did not end until
after O'Clock this afternoon. In addition to
the militia and naval sports there were sheep
shearing wood chopping. buck jumping and
boomerang tlhO"IIiB COHtcStS, SheopN"e NAA'N'
etc. The enjoyed the day thoroughly. In
the tug-of-vsr the team from the British war
ships defeated the American sailors. In the 800
yard footrace, Brown, OF the British cruiser
Pioneer, first Therry, Of the American bat
tleship New Jersey. second. and Swanson, or
:he vessel. third The Americans were
victorious in one of the baseball games, the fleet
team defeating New South Wales TO D. In
the other games the University of Sydney team
defeated team from the battleship Missouri by
s to O. There was a contest for the lightweight
boxing championship of the fleet at Athietc
Hail. In which Lynch. OF the battleship Ohio,
drew with Kelly, Of the Missouri, in the eighth
round
In the course of the afternoon thousands or
the citizens of Sydney visited the battleshlps
and were shown over them by the officers and
men. 1t rained hard all the afternoon
This evening the city illuminated as usual
The Lord Mayor Of Sydney gave reception 10
about two thousand persons including Lord
Northcote, Governor General Of Australia ana
Lady Northcote; Admiral Sir Harry Rawson.
Governor of New South Wales, and Lady Raw
son; vice-Admiral Sir Richard Poore. COM
rnander in chief of the British squadron in Aus
traiasian waters and Lady Poore, and the
senior officers of the American feet. The Com
monwealth tonight entertained about two
thousand American officers and sailors at the
stre parties.
The behavior of the Americans on shore con-
tinues 10 be most exemplary. An incident oc-
CURED to-day which shows how keenly the men
resent anything which would tend to destroy
their excellent record negro sailor fnsulted
a barmad. whereupon four white sailors at once
interfered and handled the negro severely The
offender taken back to his ship
Although it cold and showery this morn
ing four hundred American officers and men
went In two special trains to Iawarra Lake,
fifty miles from Sydney. Three hundred men
were entertained at a public picnic in the great
national park OF $1,000 acres, seventeen miles
from Sydney
The Brazilian Consul General held a reception
to-day for the officers OF the fleet and officials
and prominent citizens.