The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-10
CHEERS AMERICANS
MARKED WELCOME SHOWN TO AD-
 NERAL sPERRY's FLEET.
Welcome Addresses in New Zealand Glow With Good Feeling For This County--Mueh Att
 femffon to Officers.

Auckland New Zealand, August To- Cloudy weather greeted the landing to-
 day of Admiral Sperry, Commander-in- Chief of the United States Atlantic
 fleet and his officers to receive of ficial welcome to Australian waters at the hands of Prime Minister Sir Joseph George Ward, on behalf of the govern ment
 The landing was made at the newly erected quay at the foot of Queen Street, the city's principal thorough fare at the shore end of which an
 elaborately decorated stand had been erected for the reception. Grouped
 about the Prime Minister were the members of the cabinet and repre- sensatives of various towns, boroughs and county districts of the Dominion. Immense crowds thronged the streets and verandas and roofs of houses ad-
 jacent were moving masses of humani- ty. It was a great reception and un- bounded enthusiasm prevailed. Tn his address Sir George euiogized President Roosevelt as representing the best traditions of the common blood of Anglo-Saxon civilization. He then presented to Admiral Sperry for Prest- dent Roosevelt a decorated gold and silver album suitably inscribed as a souvenir of the visit of the American l fleet to New Zealand. Then Admiral | Sperry was given a beautifully H. Illuminated address of welcome enclosed | in a handsome casket of wood with an Ifnlaid cover having design emblematie
 of New Zealand
 | The American Commander-tn-C Chief | in replying to the Prime Minister, said that no greeting would appeal more
 strongly to President Roosevelt than coming from a people small in number
 but great in achievements. The recep- tion of the American fleet, the admiral continued, showed that the ties of the blood and friendship meant more than people generally understood. He de-
 scribed Auckland harbor as magnifi-
 cent and safe and as exceeding any
 harbor in the Pacific except that Of Sydney and perhaps Manila. Every
 facility the naval commander might
 desire was to be had here.
 |, In his address of welcome on behalf of the citizens of New Zealand, Lord Plunket the Governor, said that King
 Edward and President Roosevelt were honored work they had done and were doing for their countries and for humanity.
 l Admiral Sperry in reply. dweit on | the great work in the furtherancc of l the peace of the world that is being | done by Great Britain and America I and on common Interests of the two | countries in the Pacific which he de- I clared were growing in magnitude | daily. He said the meeting of the | British and American fleets at Auck- I land made for the maintenance or the | principles of The Hague peace con- l ference and Anglo-Saxon interests. | After the ceremonies of welcoming | by the government a procession was | formed. the route being through Queen l Street to Drill Hall, where Arthur | Myers, the Mayor accorded Rear Admir- l al Sperry a civic welcome. An artis- l tic souvenir portfolio was presented | to the admiral.
 Queen Street was lined by thousands l of spectators who enthusiastically | cheered the American offices and men | as the procession passed
 After the ceremony In Drill Hall l Rear Admiral Sperry and his staff had lunch at the home of Mayor Myers | where the principal officers of the city 1 were also guests. The remainder oi ! the American officers were entertained | at the Auckland and Northern Clubs. In an interview today Admiral Sper- | ry safd the cruise of the fleet from | San Francisco had effected great i'm
 provement In the active work of the
 men. The economy in coallng learned | made possible trips hitherto not pos l sible. and he could now steam from
 Honolulu to Sydney without coallng. | The admiral added that splendid results
 had been attained in tactical work and | gunnery during the cruise.
 |
 |