stances from these
landing-stages to Centennial Park were somewhat long, and as the review
was a rather trying one, occupying close upon four hours, I had arranged
to transport the whole of the Americans back from the review ground to
their different quays by tram, utilizing the tram system attached to the
Sydney Show Ground, which lies adjacent to Centennial Park, and, further,
to give them a good feed previous to boarding the trams on the return
home. My Quartermaster-General's Department quite surpassed themselves in
their efforts in this direction. They arranged for the units of the
American Fleet, on completion of the review, to march in succession
straight on to the Royal Agricultural Society's Grounds, and in doing so
to pass through some of the big buildings used for purposes of exhibits
at the show time. Long, narrow tables were set up in these buildings,
parallel to each other. On these tables, right down each side, were
placed packets containing each four healthy sandwiches, a large piece of
cake, an apple and an orange, a big bun and cheese. On passing through
the building the men of each company marched in two files, dividing on
each side of the table, and each man picked up his parcel and moved on to
the open Oval. As the tables were cleared they were immediately
replenished by a large staff of assistants, ready for the succeeding
companies. In this manner the six thousand Americans received their
rations within half an hour.

Once reaching the Oval and other open spaces of the society's grounds
each company was directed to what my Quartermaster-General called "a
fountain" (which meant that piled up around a small beer barrel were
plenty of bottles of all kinds of aerated waters), on reaching which each
company sat down around it, ate the contents of their packets and drank
to their hearts' content. The return journey to the ships was
accomplished without any accident, and a day never to be forgotten by
those who witnessed it was past and gone. The enthusiasm of the immense
crowd was raised to the highest pitch when squadron after squadron of
Light Horse galloped past the saluting point at fairly close intervals,
riding hard, as only Australians can ride, forty squadrons, some 100
strong each.

Previous to my leaving Sydney I held another great review at Centennial
Park. I had promised that I would give the parents and relations and
friends of the lads serving under the universal service system an
opport