The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-08
ENGLISH WELCOME OUR FLEET.
GREETING AT PORTSMOUTH rs
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.
Ming sends Cordial MessaSe-WarShips
Taken Into tho Inner Harbor. an Tn
preccdentcd HonOr-Orders TO Make
the Visit of the Americans Memorable
.s,ecf1l cable Despatch to THE SUN.

,cuadron under command Of Rear Admiral
Cation arrived at Spithead late last night.
The channel squadron, composed of the pick
or the British Navy. consisting of six battle
shps and four cruisers, under command Of
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, was
asembled in It's honor. In the brilliant
sunshine the contrast between the gleam-
ipg white bodies and yellow upper work
NJ the American ships and the grim gray
which il now the regulation color Of British
war vessels was vivid.
The American fleet fired three salutes
this morning, one Of twenty-one guns in
honor of the nation, a second of seventeen
guns in honor Of Admiral Sir Charles Hot
ham and a third OF fifteen guns in honor
Of vicc-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford.
The salutes were answered by the forts,
the flagship Victory and the British feet.
The American squadron then passed around
The British feet in a circle. The crews
manned the sides and tops of the British
warships the Americans cheered and the
quarterback bands on the British ships
played Hail, Columbia"
The Southsea Parade was thronged with
cheering crowds. Tie warships dipped
their ensigns in response to the welcome
from the people. They entered the har-
Dor a rivlege never before accorded a
foreign warship, and the Kearsarge went
alongside the jetty dockyard. The other
vessels anchored in the inner harbor
SO far as British naval men are concerned,
It Is the intention TO make the visit OF the
Americans one of good fellowship, with
as little red tape as possible. An officer
Of the British fleet told the correspondent
Of THE sun that the visit is the result of a
suggestion by King Edward to President
Roosevelt
"We have been told," said this officer,
Ito make the visit OF the Americans a men,
orabIe one. We did not require any such
official intimation, as We should have done
so anyway, for the American and English
naval officers regard one another as
brothers,
The only formalities observed to-day were
the exchange Of visits between the American
and British Admirals. Admiral Hotham,
Upon returning Admiral Cotton's visit, in
sisted that he dispense with the customary
salute. Subsequently Admiral Hotham sig
nailed that the senior officers might con-
slider their calls paid, thus relieving both
English and American officers Of formalities.
Admiral Cotton's flag officer, Lieut.. Hus
scy, wishes, on behalf Of the fleet, to deny
stories Of wholesale assertions at Kiei.
He stated to-day that there was not the
slightest truth in these reports. There
had been only one desertion in the entire
squadron, and that man was likely 10 re-
turn. The origin and purpose of the cir
culation of these stories are mystery to
the American officers and they are very
Indignant.
Shortly after the warships were berthed,
throng of officials visited the Kearsarge,
the fla gship of the squadron. The visitors
included Capt. Sir A. B. Milne, commander
of tie Kings yacht who brought a message
Of welcome from his Ma jesty. This mes
sage IVES followed by personal telegram
from TIE King expressing his delight at
tie visit of the fleet. and saying that his
Nj iesty trusted it's stay would be very
ENJOYABLE Capt Charles H. Stockton,
Naval Atteche of the American Embassy.
was an early visitor. He took luncheon
with Admiral Cotton.
H. the ut'ernoon Admiral Cotton. ac-
comprried by his staff, returned the visit
Of Mayor Dupree at the Town Hall, where
the Mayor, who was attended by the Coun-
cilcrs End Aldermen, presented welcome
10 the ,Cwn,
From 3 TO O'Clock the Kearsarge was
thrown open to visitors. and hundreds in
spcccd her from bridge b. keel openly ex-
pressing heir admiration. In connection
n,i Il a., e 81, in rI
TO the reported Indignation of naval officers
In the United States over Emperor Will
lam's inspection of the kearsarge are
interes ing
They dismiss the stories as ridiculous,
pointing out that in every foreign port
American warships are open from top l"
bottom for the inspection of visitors. In
steaJ of being indignant tn" officers and
men felt highly complimcntcd by the in
ter"-' -hown by the Emperor This and
similar stories are attributed to a desire
on the part of somebody to create discord
aldto find fault with the Kicl arrangema nts.
Many Ulcers who Were strongly anti-Ger-
man and an,i-Kaiser before the visit to
ki"l hay" now changed their opinions
They found the Emperor to be extremely
democratic and to have wide knowledge
and liberal views. Admiral Cotton, when
asked how he had enjoyed the visit to kiel,
said:
1T was splendid time. 1t would have
been impossible to be kinder than our Ger
man friends were. | could not say more
talked two months"
Tonight the festivities in connection
with the visit to Portsmouth began in earn
est, Admiral Sir Charles Hotham, Com
mander-In-Chef Mt Portsmouth, gave q
dinner In honor Of Admiral Cotton and the
senior officers of the squadron at Admiralty
House
Their" was distinguished throng Of
bFllsh naval officers present. Capt Percy
Scott nd the officers Of the Gunncry School
gave dinner to the junior officers at Whale
Rand Capt, Scott said that although he
understood there was to be no speech
making, he could not let the occasion pass
without proposing the health of the guests.
speaking Of the ties existing between
he American and English navies he recalled
we Incident at Samoa, when the Americans,
while facing death, cheered the British
SarsAip Calliope as she steamed out Of the
"aro"r Of Apia through the hurricane TO
safety. He said:
"" have much to learn from the Amcri-
van" They have taught us much about
yacht building, and perhaps they can do
'o m gunuory.'
Lieutenant Coumnnlnr Woods intpr-