American Fleet Visit to Australia - Complete Story in Pictures

DateAugust 1908-September 1908

Object number00052812

NameNewspaper

MediumPaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 450 x 308 x 4 mm

ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tikwis Begbie

Terms

DescriptionThis souvenir pictorial issue of the Sydney Mail newspaper was published to commemorate the visit by the American Great White Fleet in 1908. It depicts the complete story of the fleet entering the harbour and celebrations in Sydney, in addition to images of all the battleships and their receptions in Melbourne and Auckland, NZ.HistoryIn December 1907 United States President Theodore Roosevelt sent a US Atlantic Battle Fleet of 16 battleships on a 14-month goodwill cruise around the world. The fleet was a chance for the USN to practice seamanship and express America's world power. Roosevelt was also concerned about rising Japanese aggression and their expansionist foreign policy. The cruise would be a political and public relations exercise to build domestic support for more naval construction. Led by the flagship, USS CONNECTICUT, the Great White Fleet as it became known, consisted of 16 battleships painted white, as was the practice of all US Navy ships in times of peace. The ships sailed in four divisions of four ships each. Early in the voyage the order of the ships was altered to allow the best-looking vessels to be at the front of the fleet. The cruise incorporated six continents, 26 countries and 32 ports with 614 officers and 13,504 crew. It consumed 435,000 tons of coal, more than any other naval expedition and was the largest fleet to ever accomplish a circumnavigation of the globe. Australia was not originally on the itinerary route of the Great White Fleet, which only decided to visit after receiving a direct invitation from the Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. One quarter of the Australian population, over one million people, saw the Great White Fleet during its three-week visit to Sydney, Melbourne and Albany. Public holidays were declared and enthusiastic crowds flocked to see the ships and parades. Vast arrays of souvenirs were produced for a population caught up in the euphoria.SignificanceThis newspaper commemorates the important visit of the Great White Fleet to Australia in 1908, a US exercise to demonstrate their naval strength and build national alliances. It is representative of the production of souvenir items for the visit.