Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-08-20
FLEET IN SYDNEY
GRAND WELCOME
Reaches HarbOr Amid the Greatest
Ovation Ever Given Navy

| SYDNEY, N. 8. W., Aug. 20
Early this morning a thin veil OF
smoke on the horizon signaled to the
watchers on the coast the approach
OF the American warships, and at
5:s5 Official information was sent out
that the feet had been sighted. II
was yet 20 miles outside OF Sydney
harbor, but this word, which had
been awaited eagerly by tens OF thou
sands, stirred the Australians like a
call to arms, and almost instantly
those who had not left the city to
take up points of vantage along the
the bays were moving in droves to
line the quays, rooftops and other
places on the harbor front, to watch
the coming Of the guard ships from
the new world.
1t Is estimated that hardly less
than half million people assembled
to give the visitors royal welcome.
Sydney harbor, with its innumerable
bays and coves, never looked more
beautiful nor did the American sail
ors ever witness more inspiring
spectacle than that which met their
eyes as the white ships same through
the channel past the great headlands
into Port Jackson.
The feet left Auckland at S: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 stifE 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
auxiliary ships suffered even more
severely. There was considerable
discomfort for all the men and the
intervals between the vessels increas-
ed to 600 yards. The formation,
however, was not changed. No eyo-
buttons we're INDUCED In on account
OF the heavy weather DUNG this por-
ton Of the voyage.
In perfect alignment, the flagship
Connecticut leading, with Rear Ad-
milral Sperry on the bride, the war
ships came out OF the horizon, first
a little smoke showing and then the
hulls, low down In the distance.
Noisy Welcome.
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 steamers
and was greeted with roar OF salutes
from the forts as 1t steamed slowly
by. The thousands ashore and afioat
added their cheers to swell the noisy
welcome and countless Britich 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 were safely moored at their
anchorages Official visits were ex-
changed.
Alfred Deakin, the prime minister
Of Australia, forwarded a message OF
welcome to the American fleet, in |
which he says:
The crimson thread of kinship. |
our chief bond Of union with the en-
pire, extends through the great re-
public whose sailors we are about to |
welcome as guests, and the honored |
representatives Of this mighty nation
are thrice welcome as blood rela-
tives.
Continuing, the premier says that
for months the hosts of people of
New South Wales have throbbed with
pleasurable anticipation Of this visit,
that the whole commonwealth was
honored when President Roosevelt
consented to the proposal that the
battleships visit Australian shores,
and he expresses the hope that the
visit will be fraught with blessing
Of peace and tend to the indlssoluble
union of the English-speaking races.
Favor AnglO-AmeFiean Alliance.
The newspapers here today contain
strong editorials In favor OF an Anglo
American alliance for the control OF
the Pacific. This thought seems to
be upDermost and to be the sole
topic Of conversation with the Aus
tralians. and the New Zealanders
IL L..