The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-17

monwealth of the South Seas. The considerate,
generous, and open-handed hospitality with
which the entire Australian people treated our
officers and men could not have been surpassed
had they been our own countrymen. The feet
first visited Sydney, which has a singularly
beautiful harbor. The day after the arrival one
of our captains noticed member of his crew
trying to 60 to sleep on bench in the park. He
had fixed above his head large paper with some
lines evidently designed to forestall any ques-
tons from friendly would-be hosts: Il am de-
lighted with the Australian people. l think your
harbor the finest in the world. l am very tired
and would like to 60 to sleep"
The most noteworthy incident of the cruise
was the reception given to our feet in Japan In
courtesy and good breeding the Japanese can
certainly teach much to the nations of the West
ern world. had been very sure that the people
of Japan would understand Alright what the
cruise meant, and would accept the visit of our
feet as the signal honor which it was meant to
be, proof of the high regard and friendship l
felt, and which l was certain the American peo-
pie felt, for the great island empire. The event
even surpassed my expectations. l cannot too
strongly express my appreciation of the generous
courtesy the Japanese showed the officers and
crews of our feet; and l may add that every
man of them came back friend and admirer of
the Japanese. Admiral Sperry wrote me letter
of much interest, dealing not only with the re-
ception in Tokyo but with the work of the men
at sea herewith give it almost in full
''2S October, 1905
Dear Mr. Roosevelt:
My official report of the visit to Japan goes
poets of the affair SO successfully concluded
which cannot well be included in the report
you are perhaps aware that Mr.. Denison,
of the Japanese Foreign Office, was one of my
colleagues at The Hague, for whom I have
very high regard. Desiring to avoid every pos
sibility of trouble or misunderstanding, wrote
to him last June explaining fully the character
of our men, which they have soswell lived up to,
the desirability of ample landing places, guides.
rest houses, and places for changing money in
order that there might be no delay in getting the
men away from the docks on the excursions in
which they delight. Very few of them go into
drinking place, except to get resting place not
to be found elsewhere, paying for it by taking
drink
Explained Landing System.
81 also explained our system of landing with
liberty men an unarmed patrol, properly Off
cered, to quietly take in charge and send off to
their ships any men who showed the slightest
trace of disorderly conduct. This letter he
showed to the minister of the navy, who highly
approved of all our arrangements, including the
patrol, of which feared they might be jealous.
Mr. Denson's reply reached me in Manila, with
memorandum from the minister of the navy
which removed all doubts. Three temporary
piers were built for our boat landings, each
300 feet long, brilliantly lighted and decorated.
The sleeping accommodations did not permit
two or three thousand sailors to remain on shore.
but the ample landings permitted them to be
handled night and day with perfect order and
safety.
"At the landings and railroad station in
Yokohama there were rest houses or booths,
reputable money changers, and as many as a
uousdnu EnShsn-sPedkinS Japanese Cohese STU
dents acted as volunteer guides besides Japanese
sailors and petty officers detailed for the pur-
pose. In Toyko there were great many ex-
cellent refreshment places, where the men got
excellent meals and could rest, smoke, and write
letters, and in none of these places would they
allow the men to pay anything, though they
were more than ready to do so. The arrange
ments were marvelously perfect.
"As soon as your telegram of October 1s,