Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-19
WITH OPEN ARMS
AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE HAL WITH
JoY THE INFORMATION THAT
THE FLEETIs COMING.
THEY ADMIRE AMERICANS
Enuland's South Pacific Naval sase y
at Sydney and Demonstraflve
Welcome viii Be Ex'
tended There.

Melbourne, Mar. 16.-The Australian
commonwealth, officially and generally
halls with pleasure the information
from Washington that the American
battleship feet will visit the Anti
podes next July or August. There are
several reasons for this feeling OF
satisfaction. Premier Alfred Deakin
was not flattering the American PEG
ple In the communication he addressed
to their government through Consul
General John p. Bray here last De-
cember to have the warships come 70
this quarter OF the globe. In his invi-
tation he said: h,
mo other federation In the world
possesses so many features OF likeness
to that Of the United States as does
the commonwealth of Australia, and !
doubt whether any two peoples could
he found who are nearer In touch with
each other and are likely to benent
more by anything that tends to knit
their relations more closely"
Australians OF all classes, indeed,
have decided liking and admiration
for Americans due to sentimental, COM
mercial and even political causes. In
the first place, as Australian newspa'
pers and orators not infrequently OBJ
serve whenever the question OF Asiatic
immigration to Australia comes up, or
that Of Australian defense, America Is
the nearest Caucasian neighbor and
friend that the commonwealth has.
This fact is given added strength be-
cause, speaking broadly, Australians
are almost representative over Asiatic
proximity, prestige and influence; and,
whether there is general ground for
such feeling they are approximately
mindful Of their great physical separ'
ation fsom any coRnate peQDle. TIL.
fe1lingy slt may be added, is fostered
BY leading politicians, especially those
in the powerful labor party, and II In
cludes the Japanese, although regard
less Of the Anglo-British alliance.
This distrustful attitude toward
things Asiatlc and this strong leaning
toward things American, has q coral
larry IN Australian Jealousy of Euro
pean colonization in the South Pacific.
Whereas the commonwealth has al
ways been complainant over Americas
possession Of Page Pago, Sampa--
which the fleet will visit--it has never
been overly pleased at Germany's pos
session Of Apia; and the common
wealth manifested SO much feeling
over territorial rights in the new
Hebrides and trading privileges In the
Marshall islands that the imperial gov
ernfent was forced to treat with
France and Germany respectively re
garding those disputes.
10 LaAei the United States is the only
foreign power with territory in the
Pacific for which Australia has dis
tinct liking.
The Americans will not have LEFT
their country's smiling little land
locked harbor at Page Page far be
hind before they will be greeted doubt
less by British warships and escorted
to Sydney. Sydney is the headquar
tiers Of Great Britain's South Pacin,
feet, and a naval base Of much i'm
portance, and the welcome the visitor
from the United States will have will
be overwhelming.
Sydney offers natural advantages 70
entertainment much beyond those o
Melbourne, but the latter will not a
low her constant rival to surpass he
in warmth Of greeting or feeling.