The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-08
No Formal Banquet Will
Be Given Officers.
But They win be Given Several
Informal Entertainments.

lantic squadron will have good time In
Portland II the city government commit
tee has Its way. This committee proposes
to entertain not only the officers but the
"men behind the guns as we'll and In
the brief time ct their disposal win en-
deavor to perfect programme which
win make the visit Of the fleet to Port
land an event to be long remembered.
The fleet Is due to arrive hers some time
on "Wednesday. The city government
committee win take no formal notice OF
the arrival of the fleet but it is suggested
by them that the Portland Yacht club
would be extending most graceful well
come If Its fleet sailed out to the mouth
of the harbor and escorted the big ships
In TO their anchorage. On Thursday some
suitable entertainments will be provided
for the officers ana men OF the fleet aud
on Friday will come the naval parade.
II Is not thought advisable by the city
government committee TO attempt to
provide any escort for the marines and
blue jackets Of the feet. The National
Guard of Maine and especially OF this
city is not in condition to turn out to
provide suitable escort and SO the heroes
of Santiago will be allowed to parade
alone. The route of the parade has not
as yet been decided upon and will notabe
until the COMMITTEES has an opportunity
to confer with Capt. Taylor who is com.
handing the fleet. 1t is expected, how
ever, that the parade will be long enou0 b
to give every man, woman and oniId in
the city an opportunity OF seeing 1.-THE
men behind the guns" In connection
with this parade it is the desire of the
committee that there be liberal display
of bunting on the streets through which
the parade passes. Every American flag
in Portland should on that occasion be
displayed and all who can do SO should
see to 1t that their houses are decorated.
1t is earnestly hoped too, that some of the
patriotic societies of women in Portland
win take in hand thei matter of present.
ing to the marching men flowers and
other tokens of the esteem of the people
of this city. At first the committee was
of the opinion that they would make
some arrangements for providing for
this floral display but they have conclud-
cd that 1t will he better. to have this
tribute come spontaneously and it is
hoped that some of the patriotic women
of Portland will take the matter in hand
and see that something of this kind is
done either by the school children or by
older people An attempt TO 90 this sort
of thing will meet with the hearty appro-
val and cooperation of the committee
who will assist whoever unwakes such q
Tribute in any way in their power.
The committee has made some arrange
ments for decoration and will have put In
position the electric lights across Con-
gress street. the better to illuminate the
center of the city while the fleet is in this
port. Alderman Moulton and Council
man Goudy have been appointed sub
committee on the decorations.
The committee has not vet decided Just
what form of entertainment will be pro-
vided for the officsrs of the feet 1t has
bsen voted by them that there shall be
no formal banquet The matter of a ban
quet which was first believed to be an
essential feature of any entertainment
was turned over to the Portland Board of
Trade with the request that they take
the matter in hand and make arrange
ments for 1t. President Boothby called
the managers of the Board of Trade to-
gether yesterday afternoon and after a
long discussion 1t was decided by them
that they would not underta axe anything
of this kind. Some of the managers were
Inclined to do this. but the majority did
not wish TO devote their time to it and
when 1t was so reported to the commit
tee of the city government 1t was at once
voted to let the formal BANQUET 60 by
the board. Instead of this banquet the
committee will arrange some pleasant
trips in and aboutiP Portland for the off,
GERS, making their entertainment an in
formal affair without the customary
speeches or other things of the kind
which are looked upon as o decided bore
not onlysby the officers themselves but
by the citizens who are called upon to
participate. The committee believes that
with the plans they have in yisw the
officers of the North Atlantic squadron
can be fttingly entertained and more to
their enjoyment than they would be t
they were called upon to attend ban
quet.
For the "men behind the guns'' the
committee will endeavor to make their
stay in Portland one to be long remem
bered. II 1t is agreeable to Captain lay
Tor 1t Is likely that there will be prizes
offered for boat RACES between the racing
crews of tho several ships. Then on Sat
urday or some other day that is agreeable
70 the admiral the blue jackets will be
taken to come place and given clam
bake, with athletic sports aad prizes
offered for the winners and also to the
ship whose athletes make the largest