Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-20
THE FRENCH FLEET ARRIVES.
Welcomed Most Royalty In British waters
ut Portsmouth.

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ut Portsmouth.
The war vessels OF France were signalsd q,
las p. m. yesterday OF Portsmouth. England.
They were steaming slowly toward the Solent.
The Marceau was leading the fleet. then came
the Msrengo. the Furieux. the Requin. the Sur
Coup, the Lance and two t,rpedo boats. The
latter were almost engulfed In the rough chan
mel sea which formed part Of Britain's welcome
to her warlike visitors The admiralty boats
boarded the Marceau OF ventnor, ON the south
coast Of the Isle Of Wight and guided the
French feet up the roads, which were lined
with British war vessels profusely decorated
with bunting, and presenting most splendid
spectacle.
In addition TO the presence Of the war ships.
the roads, Solent and all the other Isle Of Wight
waters were crowded all the morning with
countless yachts and excursion steamers,
while 10000 people lined the neighboring
shores, intent upon witnessing the reception
rendered to the French men-of-war. Every
steamer or tug about Portsmouth or its neigh
borhood had apparently been chartered for the
Occasion, and us they were all bright with flags
and pennants Of all sizes, colors and descrip-
tions, the tri-color Of France predominating,
they added considerable to the beauty of the
scene.
ARRIVAL OFF cowEs.
Az the visiting fleet passed Spithead the
French war ships saluted the flag Of the British
admiral, which salute was promptly returned
by the flag ship, the Duke Of Wellington, and
by garrison battery Of artillery. The vessels
Of both fleets dipped their ensigns as the
French vessels made their way toward Cowes.
When the French vessels arrived off Cowes
they saluted the royal standard of Great
Britain which was flying from the tower Of
Osborne palace. In this salute the guard ship
in Southampton water, IL. nj. 3. Invincible
sixteen guns. 5000 tons. responded with
salute to the French flag.
The program determined upon for today
though subject to alteration, is as follows: The
French admiral and his staff will land and pay
the customary visits to the commanders chief
the Earl of Clanwilliam. to the Duke of Con-
naught, in command of the Portsmouth garri-
son, and to Sir William Pink. the mayor of
Portsmouth. These visits will be returned the
same day by the English admirals, the Duke of
Connaught and the captains of British war
ships Tonight Admiral Gervais and his prin-
pal officers will dine with the queen ut Osborne.
1t is expected that the queen will inspect the
French fleet on Friday morning, enibarking for
that purpose on boerd the royal yacht Victoria
and Albert. After the queens inspection the
French fleet will go to Spithead. where the
place Of honor has been reserved for the visit
ing ships.
The hrst lord Of the admiralty, Lord George
Hamilton, has placed the admiralty yacht En-
chantress at the disposal of the French ad-
miral, and it is expected that Admiral Gervais
will live on board Of her during his stay at
Portsmouth.
PROSPECTIVE CIvILTTIEs.
The Earl of Clanwilliam will give banquet
on Friday night to the French admiral and his
principal officers at the Admiralty House in
Portsmouth dock yard. The Duke OF Connaught
and the lord lieutenant of the county, Earl
Northbrook, will be present. After this BAN
French fha .r,pyo q
ball. given i'll their honor at the town hall. Two
thousand invitations have been issued for this
entertainment.
On Saturday the MAYOR will give banquet
10 the oihGers OF the French squadron. On Nom
day the French admiral and his officers will
visit the dock yard. the naval gunnery establish
ment on Whale Island and the torpedo school
on board II. ii. S. Vernon. At Whale Island the
French officers will be entertained ut luncheon.
and at night themayor will give a dinner to the
sailors of the French feet. Upon this occasion
n thousand French blue jackets are expected to
sit down to dinner.
When the French fleet was hove to in o.
borne bay, amid the booming of saluting can
non from both French anH English vessels, the
crews OF both fleets manned the yards and
cheer upon cheer arose from the immense fleet
OF yachts and excursion steamers which had
gathered around about the Portsmouth waters
Her majestys steamship Camperdown. the
British flag ship, one OF the largest OF the large
british ironclads present to greet the French
visitors, HAD her band upon the quarter deck
and 1t played ''Marseillaise' with spirit and
rigor.
The Marengo, flag ship of the French feet
replied to this compliment by her band playing
'dod Save the Queen" which brought forth
renewed salvos OF hurrahs from the thousands
OF excursionists and yachtsmen assembled.
The French dispatch boat Elan then steamed
around the English fleet, her crew exchanging
enthusiastic cheers with the crew OF each of the
British war YES els. In word there was gem
ulne warm reception to the visiting French
war ships. and the depth of this feeling could
be judged from the tact that the French am.
bassador on board tho Elan was Is heartily
cheered as were the long-looked-tor visiting
ironclads OF France