Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-07
Australia Making Preparations
to Give Fitting Welcome to
American Ships.
FINE SPECTACLE At SYDNEY
Millions of Electric Lights to Be Used
In IlIumination-Larse Display
of Fireworks.

,coast line, many miles in length, of
the fine harbor is to be brilliantly illu-
minated the numerous headlands at
the expense of the federal and state
governments and the intervening
shores by public subscription Mil
lions of electric lights will be used
In addition the British and other
warShips in the harbor will be ahlaZe
with light. rs will the merchant YES
sells. ferry steamers and other craft
There will also he 81 display of fire
works on large scale. in which the
vessels Of the Australian squadron
will participate.
In the city Of Sydney itself the deco
rations ard illuminations will surpass
those on the occasion Of the, centenary
of the state or the proclamation of the
commonwealth. says a Sydney special
correspondent of the New York Times
Special arrangements are making for
entertaining the officers and men.
Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry and
his captains are to be the guests of the
Earl Of Dudley. governor general elect,
and the Countess of Dudley and VIII
be entertained at n grand ball in the
grounds of the government house by
Lord Northcote the present governor
general. and Lady Northcote.
A magnificent ball Is also to be given
in the Sydney town hall by the lord
mayor and the city corporation. and
large number of dances. dinners and
other entertainments are being ar
Nv hn aft 81, t1a
aters and other places of amusement
will be thrown open free to the visit
ors. who will also be invited to attend
the great sport carnival in which sew
cral thousand public school children
will take part
The leading cities and townships in
the interior are most anxious that ar
engagements should be made for en-
abling portions of the crews to see
something of the scenic wonders of
the state, especially the Blue noun
tains and the Zenolan caves. and it is
understood that all accepting the invi-
taticns will be conveyed to the various
points of interest and banqueted free
of cost There is. however. great dis
appointment in Queensland by reason
of Brisbane not being included in the
itinerary, 1t is proposed to ask the
American admiral to permit party
Of his officers and men to visit the
Estate metropolis. 1t is doubtful Wheeh-
er it will be in his power to do so.
| 1t is estimated that there will be
over thirty war vessels of American.
British and other nationalities in sgd
pey harbor at one time, and con-
siderable amount of water space will
have to be set apart for their accommo-
dation. The vessels will probably be
arranged in two lines. each about q
mile in length, north and south of the
harbor
Landing to he Imposing.
The official landing will be an impos-
ing affair, the visitors marching in
procession to the Domain. Sydney's
largest and eldest park. under tri,
umphal arches and past beautifully
decorated buildings. where they will
be received with acclamation by the
thousands of Australians assembled
from all parts of the commonwealth
The Earl of Dudley. Lord Northcote
and Admiral Rawson. the state gov
lernor, accompanied by the federal
prime minister the state premier and
leading federal ard state officials. will
form the reception party. There will
lalso be several thousand troops on the
ground.
In anticipation of the event there
has been an unprecedented demand for
the stars and stripes. and extensive
orders have been cabled to New York
and London. In all the public schools
the children are learning to sing THE
Star Spangled Banner. Hail Column
bia" and other American patriotic
songs. Practically sydney will be
found completely Americanized during
the stay of the fleet At the cere-
monial parade of the commonwealth
forces Rear Admiral Sperry will be
asked to allow detachments from his
vessels to march past with the Austria
liam troops.
Perhaps the most interesting feature
of the visit will be the laying Of the
foundation stone of a permanent me-
mortal the exact nature of which has
yet to be decided. The ceremony will
be performed by Rear Admiral Sperry
and Admiral Rawson 1t will proba.
bly, take the form of colonnade, with
a large central arch constructed of Aus
tralian white marble. forming the en-
trance to Sydney's great central park.
| In Melbourne the fleet will be re
ceived in the same cordial manner as
at Sydney. but the details have yet to
be arranged. They will, however. In
elude visits to Ballarat. the golden
city. where the miners are preparing
unique demonstration. The Amer
lean element is very strong in Vic
toria, which received a considerable
accession of population from the Unit
ed States during the earlier days OF
Australian gold discovery.