the "great white fleet" of the us visited australia (sydney, melbourne, albany) in august and september 1908. the depth of fond sentiment towards the united states displayed at the time of the announcement that the great white fleet would be visiting can be gauged by the following: the fleet that is coming to sydney; an official despatch from washington states that rear admiral robley d. evans, in charge of the major portion of the battle fleet of the united states, will leave san francisco on july 6. the fleet will visit hawaii, samoa, melbourne, and sydney. it will then proceed to the philippines for the autumn gunnery practice, and return to the atlantic, via the suez canal. the right hon. james bryce, british ambassador at washington, supported the commonwealth's invitation to the fleet to visit australia. on saturday evening, at the centenary hall, sydney, when the prime minister concluded his address on national defence, he intimated that he had just received a cable message to the effect that the american fleet would visit melbourne and sydney. in an instant the hall rang with tumultuous cheering. mr. deakin, waiting with uplifted hand, for a lull in the storm, presently shouted: 'the least we can do is to give three cheers for the united states.' the great audience rose en masse, and cheer after cheer was given to the waving of hats and canes and handkerchiefs. the prime minister: i venture to say that a welcome such as that fleet has never known, outside its own country at all events, will be given it in australia. (great cheering.)