Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15
FLEET WEIGHS ANCHOR
Receives Great Send-0ff by
the New ZeaIanderS.
POINTED FOR AUSTRALIA
Guns Roar a Parting Salute as Ships
File Out.
HAPPY FAREWELL MESSAGES
Enthusiastic Scenes When Admiral
Sperry's Flagship at Head Of
Line Steams Away.
THE FLEETS ITINERARY.
The schedule Of the fleets rest Of the
voyaye sround the world follows:

To Alden ......................... z, 40
To Port said. !,SlO
10 ilDraltar ....................s 1,S<U
10 home port ................''... o'1o1
AUCKLAND, August ia graceful
message from Rear Admiral Sperry Of the
American battleship fleet, bidding the COL
ony of New Zealand farewell, was re-
ceived by the governor, Lord Plunket,
on the eve of the fleets departure from
here today. The admral's message was
as follows:
1.-THE commander-in-ch chief of the At
lantic feet, in behalf Of his government
and the officers and men OF the fleet. ex
presses to you and through you to the
people of New Zealand his hearty thanks
for the cordial reception and the generous
hospitality accorded the fleet by the gov
eminent and people of the dominion. The
warm friendship and esteem existing be-
tween Great Britain and America cannot
fail to be strengthened by a visit Of this
nature which helps the two nations to a
stronger realization of their close rela-
tionship and their common interests, and
fosters sympathy and a mutual under
standing more binding than treaties"
Before the departure Of the fleet Rear
Admiral Sperry sent message of thanks
to Mayor Myers. thanking him for the
lavish hospitality that had been accorded
himself and the officers and men of the
fleet, and congratulating him upon the
perfect arrangements for their reception
and entertainment Admiral sperry added
that he had never seen a city SO prettly
decorated as was Auckland.
The Start for Sydney.
The fleet departed for Sydney at s:15
O'Clock this morning. The weather was
fine and large crowds were ashore and
afloat to bid farewell to the Americans.
Excursion craft loaded to the rails dotted
the harbor.
AS the anchors were hoisted and Rear
Admiral Sperry's flagship pointed her nose
toward the mouth of the harbor pande-
moniun reigned. The shore batteries
belched forth parting salutes, which were
answered by the American ships, and the
whistles and sirens on the excursion flo
tilla resounded across the harbor and
were re-echoed by the distant hills.
The American ships were kept busy
dipping their flags in answer to the salu-
tations of the New Zealandcrs. The feet
steamed with perfect alignment out of the
harbor, and many of the excursion craft
followed 1t far to sea.
A Magnificent Sight.
The sight when the ships left their an
chorage was magnificent one, the flag
ship Connecticut turning and steaming
between the lines Of battleships, which
turned in order and followed her to sea.
Sir Joseph Ward, the premier. and
large number Of officials were aboard
government steamer, and, as each battle
ship passed Sir Joseph led the rousing
cheers for the Americans. The battleship
Kentucky, which was the last in the line
responded Justify with cheers for New
Zealand, and the bands on both vessels
played the British and American national
anthems and 'Auld Lang Syne."
changer between Admiral Sperry and the
New Zealand authorities. Sir Joseph
Ward, the premier, voicing the sentiments
of the people of the dominion, said:
your all-tOO-sf1ort visit to New Zealand
unquestionably has drawn the peoples OF
the United States and this dominion
closer together" The message concludes
with the following words in the Maori
language:
"Kia ora aroha." which means GOOD
luck and love-"
Admiral Sperry's Comments.
Admiral Sperry said the reception ac-
corded the battleship fleet at Auckland
had been hearty and cordial beyond his ex-
pectations, and that 1t would unite in
closer bonds the two white races whose
interests in the Pacific were identical.
The fleet is due at Sydney August 70
and will remain for q week. The dis
lance from here to Sydney Is little
under 800 miles.
The American sailors have won the I'M
stintsd praise of the people Of Auckland
for their behavior during the stay of the
fleet. Thousands of men have been ashore
day after day. and there has been no
disturbance of the peace. There was
however, an incident last night which
showed the sympathies of the Auckland
people with the sailormen on shore. The
patrol from the feet was engaged in
back on board and a crowd was watch
ing the operations.
Furry Over Drunken Sailors.
At one stage of the proceedings the
people came to the conclusion that the
patrol was handling some drunken sail
ors too roughly. They threatened the
patrol, who were obliged to draw their
revolvers. At this moment the local po-
escorted the patrol and their prisoners to
the wharf.
The cutter race between vessels of the
fleet for the Battenberg cup was rOwed
in the harbOr yesterday. The Louisiana
crew led from the start and finished five
lengths ahead of the nearest competitors.
Admiral Sperry yesterday afternoon en-
tertained distinguished party of New
Zealanders on board the battleship Con-
necticut. Among those present were Lord
Plunket, governor of New Zealand, and
Sir Joseph Ward, the premier.
The Panther the Glacier and the Re-
lief accompany the fleet.
London Papers Congratulations.
LONDON, August 15.-The London
Daily Chronicle in an editorial today con-
graduates the United States on sailing
the largest squadron Of battleships on
record around the world and adds:
THE popular rejoicings in New Zealand
are primarily and sincerely demonstra-
ton of friendship for the United States.
They are also, in the background a
demonstration against oriental immigra-
ton into the white mans lands
Reuben Fax. one of. the best known
character actors in the business, died sud-
denly Of heart failure in the Times Hotel.
New York, where he was staying. 4