Shore Leave

A chill westerly wind and heavy rain --bleak January weather, according to the notions of the Northern Hemisphere --prevailed one fine July morning as the U. S. fleet in two detachments approached the harbors of Sydney, New South Wales, and Melbourne, Victoria.

The harbors were plowed with small craft filled with eager observers. The headlands were freighted with watching multitudes gathered from miles around. The Victorian Parliament adjourned for three weeks in celebration. In Melbourne, streetcar men postponed a strike until after the fleet's departure. All officials were profuse of words. Said Admiral Coontz:

"During these many years we all have been looking forward to revisiting your people and your country, whose wholehearted hospitality is so deep and lasting.

"During the 1908 visit to Australia my duties as executive officer of the Nebraska made it impossible for me to spend as much time ashore as I would have liked, but during this visit it will be my privilege and pleasure more fully to come to know your splendid land."

Said Premier Bruce of Australia:

"The great Republic of the United States and the Commonwealth of Australia stand for the same ideals and same traditions. Facing similar problems under vastly different circumstances, both desire maintenance of the world's peace and the limitation of the burden of armaments.

"We all trust our reception will show the feeling of amity and good will Australians have for America and Americans. The future prosperity and peace of all countries bordering the Pacific are best assured by mutual intercourse, understanding and sympathy."

Parties without end were planned; Governor General Baron Forster announced a ball; others offered luncheons, dinners, dances, picnics, motoring parties, baseball games, fireworks, rifle contests. Admirals Coontz and S. S. Robinson will reciprocate with a reception and dance on the Pennsylvania, luncheons on the Seattle, dinners and dances on the California. The Seattle, flagship of the combined fleet, will also hold a party celebrating its 19th birthday. She is the oldest ship making the cruise.

The Y.M.C.A. planned to receive 4,500 sailors on shore every day, provided 1,500 beds and continuous meals. The newspapers published "Home News for the Fleet"--items wirelessed from KDKA (Pittsburgh) on a 63-meter wavelength, by arrangement with The Melbourne Herald, secured through the U.S. representative of La Nacion (Buenos Aires). Every evening at 6 p. m. the items are flashed from Pittsburgh and are received in Melbourne at 8 a. m. almost instantaneously, but by calendar a day later.

At Melbourne, on the day following their arrival, 2,000 sailors paraded, and were reviewed from the steps of the Federal Parliament House by Governor General Forster, the Earl of Stradbroke and Admiral Coontz. It was reported that 150 spectators collapsed (although it was a mild day) either from excitement, or from long standing and going without lunch. The parade was halted at one point while sailors rescued spectators injured as a street canopy on which they were standing collapsed.

In Sydney, 800,000 onlookers of the city saw the landing of the fleet. The bars of the city were reported swamped with gobs, but there was little drunkenness. Signs prominently posted carried the reminder: "Beer is thicker than water, Mister Gob."