Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-10
The Merry Hum of the The will Heard and Business
Till tend to make 1t all the more vel.

Perhaps the greatest of all the en-
tertainments to be given the men Of
the fleet In any foreign city, however
will be waiting their arrival at Sid
ney, the great port Of Australia.
where the war ships, after leaving
Auckland on August Is, will arrive OF
August 20. Half a million dollars is
the sum the government and the peo
pie Of Sidney have appropriated bor
the entertainment Of the American
sailors. Varied and many are the
pleasures the Australians have plan
ned and placed in store for them, dul
ing the nine days Of their stay al
that port. The government will take
an active part In these entertainments
those in the official life Of the colony
yieing with private citizens In efforts
to display their hospitality. A series
of elaborate social functions for the {
ficers, and parades and excursions
and sports for the enlisted men com,
prise the program.
Melbourne and Albany are two othel
ports Of Australia where the fleet will
stop, and where open-handed hospital
ity, and lavish entertainment will be
given the men. From the port of Al
bany the fleet will steam on Septem.
Der II for Manila, and 1t will arrive
in these American waters, the last
home port until Hampton Roads, on
October 1.
The reception to be accorded the
fleet in Manila will be striking one,
and the entertainment of the officers
and men ashore will be as cordial an
heartfelt, II not as elaborate, as the r
ceptions at other places. The Ameri.
can colony In Manila is looking for.
ward to the event with fervent antici,
patton. A large fund has been sub.
scribed, and committees are at work
on the preparations.
Great interest is felt in the fleets
visit to Japan. Proceeding to Yoko.
hama from Manila the fleet will ar
rive there on October II. Here on
October "a 1t win be divided, the frs
squadron returning October 31st to
Manila. The promise is that the wei
come to be given the American fleet
In Yokohama will not be second IN
graciousness at least, to anything me
with at any Port previously touched
for 1t Is upon the special invitation
Of the Emperor of Japan that the
fleet goes there. Elaborate function,
at court, and social affairs will b,
held for the officers of the fleet.
At Annoy, China, the reception will
doubtless be the occasion Of a great
celebration characteristic of the Chi
nese. The two spuadrons of the flee
will be brought together again a
Manila on November Z, and the de
parture thence for Alden, and the pas
sage Of the Suez will take place with
in the following few dys, the exao'
date not yet having been determined
The ships of the Pacific fleet
which assembled hero previously t,
the departure Of the battleships TO
Hampton Roads, will remain in thi
harbor until August 5, at which tim
they will start for Samoa and TIE
Philippines, with the little black boa
comprising the Atlantic and Pacifi,
torpedo flotillas in tow. Preparation
to this summer voyage Of the Pacifi
fleet, a squadron Of the cruisers VII
take some Of the torpedo boats Il
tow, and steam down the Pacific coas
as far as San Diego by way of tes
, of the possibility Of towing the littl
craft for long distances. The town
to Samoa and the Philippines Is col
tingent upon the success Of this e,
pertinent
Admiral Dayton, now In comman
= of the Pacific fleet, will retire Augu
l, and 1t Is considered proboble ths
Admiral Swinburne will succeed hi
In command Of the Pacific fleet, an
take 1t across the Pacific and bacl
Following Is a complete list of tn
Atlantic fleet the copmanding off
. cers. and the formation of the va
ious divisions:
!. Atlantic Fleet.
Rear Admiral Charles s. Sper1.
commander In chief.
> First Squadron-First Division.
Connecticut, Flagship Of Sperry
Captain Hugo 0sterhaus; "a gum
. $4,000 tons displacement; 1s,500 hor
power; speed IS knots per hour.
Kansas, Captain Charles N. vre
land, sister ship to the Connecticut
:. Minnesota, Captain John Hubbal
sister ship to the Connecticut.
= Vermont, Captain William c. Pott
v sister ship to the Connecticut.
VI Second Division.