Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-04
FAREWELL TO THE FLEET.

FAREWELL TO THE FLEET.
The end is at hand: tomorrow morn
ng our visitors-becOme in one short
week friends as Well as ssts-wilt
.et their great white ships in motion,
and once more put ont to sea. Ana
1t may be said with certainty that
never before have the citizens OF
Sydney been so 10th to part with the
representatives of any nation that
AVE visited New South Wa,es. Prior
O their arrival there were perhaps
speculative doubts existing as to
whether Australians and americans
would altogether fraternise and take
TO" each other. All such doubts have
long vanished. Blood has once more
proved stronger than water: and the
claims OF common ancestry have
been triumphantly demonstrated. AS
Admiral Sperry SO eloquently put 1t
no overcoming the facts Of the ties
Of common blood, OF common Chris
tianity. and Of a thousand and one
les of ter-marriage-those ties
which are stronger than steel, and
more numerous than we know Of.
Truer words than these were never
spoken: and as the days passed. and
he two peoples began to know each
other more intimately. their truth has
cen abundantly made manifest. BY
their invariably courtesy. their modest
md unassuming bearing. and their
splendid behaviour generally. the men
Of the Fleet have endeared them
selves to the people of New South
Wales in a very high degree indeed.
We gave them Of our best, and they
have proved themselves in every re-
pect worthy Of the very best We
could offer them. you've done US
proud" they say: and our reply now
is that with us lies the pride. be-
-ause they have borne themselves in
UGH wise as to deserve even more
han We did for them. Other visitors
we have had, and received with feast
ing and music and Examinations and
banners, and every appropriate out
ward ceremony. But although honor
ing them in such fashion. and dis
playing our esteem for them. the peo-
10 Of this State never felt the same
eminent Of friendship and the de-
sire to improve upon 1t that has been
the prevailing feature with regard TO
our present guests.
And this Is where the common tie"
comes in. Just for little while. per
haps. We were inclined to view these
Young enlisted men-citiIens OF the
yreat Republic though they might b.
as somewhat in the light Of for
eigners. Then. when We found on
no thRS- IN all
sntents and purposes repiicas OF our
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the best Hand
we took them TO our hearts. and
greeted them. not as strangers in
strange land. but az a distinguished
norton Of the Family A portion. to.
from which VIC had been for over
long separated. And. to do them jus
tice. our newly-discovered brethren
were not slow 70 recirf,cafe: they
have shown themselves able TO cheer
fully second any efforts made In their
behalf: they have revealed mutual
interest In our sports ard pursuits:
ttey have in every possible way re-
ceived our advances in the spirit In
which they we're offered them. And
tn this ready and adequate response
o. their side is due In great mea-
sure the undoutsed success. not only
.; The national welcome. but Of en-
rendering those deeper and more per
msnsn- sentiments Of racial svmpa-
thy and rcspec; snd even II affection.
which Nc think has Individually been
the case. From the time that the bat
tieships entered the harbcr. and
throughout the long round Of srhse-
fuert festivities u has been tncreas
inRiy apparsn; that our visitors. from
their simiTals and captains down 10
The smallest bov on the ships. feh
themselves AZ home. Not, % course.
| IN the scase Of beine among their
own folk bat still among people Who
| wire akin 10 tkarn. and sSon: the
warmth and sincerity OF whrs@ f.ei
| i.rs towards them there cor VI be no
mistake. And tn. fact ~ mis- heinz
~ Is gratifying IN the g rsmc. Ans
traiians are VERY e. - - icing : dem
| Snstsstivc p"op,e: ihcv are. indeed
on the contrary. given TO aloofness.
not 10 ssy stoIidi;y. BH, . mus, be
confessed tina, On this cccsssiJa the!
have ~orns ont of fhei- shr;I IN = mnzi
surprising manner u w. ihs ~ccn-
non tie" that sffectsI thu trsnkf5s.
mzfhn Had our fricnis STAYED attn
Ne much longer. enc Of twa taia9s
voch have happsp~d Either thcs
wouh have Americanssed ~ ~ y.
Sshculd have AsstrsIiaatsel tAsaL We
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