Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-23
FLEET DEPARTS
FOR AUSTRALIA
SAILORS BID FAREWELL TO
HAWAIIANS
SPERRY THANKS ISLANDERS FOR
HOSPITALITY
Minnesota Left Behind to Meet Mail
Steamer from San Francisco.
Collier Arrives Too
Late

BY Associated Press,
HONOLULU, July 22.-At 6:15 o'clock
tonight the Atlantic battleship fleet
babe farewell to the hospitable shores
of Hawaii and sailed to new entertain
ments in the Antipodes, where waves
the British flag and where dwells
kindred people.
The Minnesota was left behind to
await the mail steamer from San Fran
cisco and to overtake the fleet before
it arrives at Auckland, New Zealand,
the next point on its world itinerary,
and where 1t is due to arrive August 8.
At 2;30 this afternoon the flagship
Connecticut left her wharf and steamed
outside the harbor entrance, where the
fleet assembled. Shortly after o'clock
anchors were raised and the long voy-
age to Auckland was begun.
Before sailing, Rear Admiral Sperry
formally expressed his thanks to the
people of Honolulu and Hawaii for
their hospitality in the following Ian
guage:
Sperry Thanks Islanders
"On the eve of departure l wish to
express to the people of Honolulu and
Hawaii the sincere appreciation of the
officers and men for the kindly and
courteous hospitality exterded through
out our visit. The courteous and fair
treatment shown the enlisted men is
especially gratifying and cannot fail
to engender pride in the uniform and
add to the contentment of the enlisted
ones producing lasting and beneficial
effect on the naval service"
Copies of fleet editions of Melbourne
newspapers were received here today
ON the steamship Aorangi and distrib-
uted among the men and vessels of the
fleet
The collier Granger with coal for
the fleet, arrived this morning from
Norfolk, Va, too late to be of service
here.
The fleet was scheduled to sail
promptly at 6 p. M, but there was
some delay, and it was 6:15, as it APP
peared from shore, before the flagship
began moving. 1t is thought that tho
delay was due to waiting for the hospi-
tai ship Relief, which left the harbor
at o'clock.
Ships Weigh Anchor
The sixteen battleships lay at an
chorage a mile and a half off shore
in a line extending two miles, the, Con-
necticut off the entrance to the cham
mel outside the line of ships. When
the flagship began to move the second
division, consisting of the Georgia., Ne
braska, New Jersey and Rhode Island,
under command of Acting Rear Ad-
miral Wainwright, which was anchored
eastward of the channel, drew up an
Choir and followed, moving to the south.
Meanwhile the Kansas and Vermont
fell in behind the flagship.
The third division, under command
of Rear Admiral Emory and composed
of the Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio and
Missouri and the fourth division con-
sisting of the Wisconsin, Illinois, Kear-
sarge and Kentucky, under the flag
of Acting Rear Admiral Schroeder,
which were all anchored westward of
the channel, began to move and soon
the column was formed.
The column sailed in a southerly di-
rection, presenting a magnificent sight
from shore. From the entrance of the
harbor a bombardment of daylight
fireworks by the Japanese signaled
farewell.
In replying to Admiral Sperry's for
NAL farewell Governor Frear said the
presence of the fleet in these waters
has done much toward stirring the
pride of patriotism of the American
citizens of the territory and it will
assist them in the important task OF
building up American ideals in the
islands and make closer the already
close relations of the people Of Hawaii
and the American navy.