New-York tribune., 1908-07-14
READY TO GREET FLEET
Honolulu's Preparations to Welcome
the BattleshipS.

Honolulu. July 1S-A wireless message from
Lieutenant Fullinweider. The Associated Press s
correspondent board the battleship Connecticut,
received late last night says:
The position Of the Atlantic feet at p m was was
in latitude 29:ly longitude f45: The fleet VIII
slow down to nine knots hour tomorrow noon
in order to pass the leper settlement Mookai
40 miles behind the feet and viii overtake the
other vessels Tuesday morning. The sea is smooth
Part of Lieutenant Fullinweiders message was
lost on account of interference OF the transport
Thomas
Honolulu has completed all arrangements for the
entertainment of the Atlantic battleship feet and
awaits the coming of the fighting ships with the
greatest interest. The entire community, regard
less of nationality, has heartily united to
extend welcome to officers and men and provide
entertainment. The entire week has been given up
TO preparation for the arrival of the battleships
July 16. the day which the fleet is scheduled TO
arrive, will be made holiday and all business
will be suspended Thousands of persons from all
parts OF the territory will assemble on Diamond
Head and along the other heights and points sof
vantage southeast of Honolulu to the spectacle
Soon after Molokai has been dropped astern the
warshps should come in sight of the crowds on
Diamond Head. providing the weather IS clear
and on the last twenty miles of It's long journey
the entire feet will be visible TO the crowds on the
heights As soon as the fleet arrives Honolulu will
let loose its enthusiasm in salutes and daylight
fireworks, which have been specially prepared by
the japanese residents at great expense
Daylight fireworks will also play a large part IN
the festivities when the fleet departs, ano from the
time of its coming the day 1t clears for Austria
liza the business part of the city will be blazing
with electric lights every night on scale never
before attempted here.
The entertainment committee has prepared
large number of excursions to places Of interest,
and the men of the fleet will be overwhelmed with
invitations to see the island during their stay
There will trips Pearl Harbor, to the sugar
plantations and pineapple regions OF Huaini anu
Pali and to other points of interest A large pdit
of the weeks programme will consist OF these trlps
and adequate transportation by rail- water anu
automobile has been provided for the citys sailor
guests The owners of automobiles have nasteheo
to place their at the committees oisposdi, anu
practically every machine on the lslaho VIII oe III
Plans for baseball games, football poio' ooNi'e
and wrestling matches have been made anu III du-
di+ion IN these there will many forms or enter
tafnment of a purely Hawaiian character Anlons
these will be a grand ball at Waikiki beach hs
ing and chowder parties at Pearl Harn-'r i0 @
officers and the presentation OF cocoaHu's' nuns
and other island delicaces to the men,
For several days the use OF the streetcars ana
trains will be free men In American haNaI uiii
forms and the committee has provided rest mus
and stations where they may take their ease "hile
wandering about the city. Scores OF private resi-
dences will also keep open house for the sailors
each being distinctly marked with decorauois anu
ready to extend hearty welcome to the saiioiS
Every effort will be made to assist the men III
finding entertainment besides the pubic 1eslViues
supplied by the committee There will be dlnhers
and garden parties by the at which the sailor
boys will be guests of honor
The officers of the reception committee are sun
somewhat uncertain regarding what DIVISION Oh
the feet will be made during its stay between
Honolulu and Lahaina seventy-three miles away
As soon as the Connecticut arrives within easy
wireless range definite information on this polh'
will be obtained. Maalae Bay, where the coal shipS
have been ordered to await the coming OF the
batteshfps is a small place, and Lahalna Is ho1
much better neither having good faclllt1es LOT en-
tertainment on the scale required Because OF tlS
Honolulu hopes that will be able TO entertain the
whole feet here until it leaves for AustraHa-
All the auxiliaries of the fleet, the supply nos
nital and coal ships already here awaiting the
coming of the fighting craft The ofhcers OF THESE
vessels have brought letters from orlcers OF 'he
main feet to acQuaintances in Honolulu making
enearements and it is certain that an enormous
amount of private entertaining will be done by the
Hawaiian residents
Plans for the entertainment Of the newspaper
correspondents accompanying the fleet nave oeeh
made by the local press members