The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-10
Thousands in New York Wt|-
 come English Visitors
FLEET STEAMS UP THE RIVER
With Every Whistle In the Harbor Shriekinu and Hundreds of Flags Flying Brilliant Scene
 Is Presented.

New York, November 9.-Thousands stood and watched on the banks of the Hudson river at noon today while six British warships in unison with double that numer of American men-of-war, fired salute of twenty-one guns in honor of King Edward, who celebrated today his 64th birthday. Bedecked from stem to stern with gaiy fiuttering flags of many colors. the column of ships stretched for four miles up the Hudson from Forty-second to One Hundred and Twenty-flfth street. by far the largest and most formidable anglo-American na- val force ever assembled in home or for eign ports.
 Gracefully they rode at anchor In mid stream, at intervals of 400 yards, each wearing full dress in honor of the Kings birthday. Flying at the fore Of each British man-of-war was the Royal George, and at the main the stars and stripes. The American flag fioated at the fore of the ships of the North Atlantic fleet, and the royal jack at the main in honor or the bIltlSn SoNticibiis
 Was Perfect Autumn Day.
 Overhead the sky was clear, and the bright sunshine and breezes combined to make a perfect autumn day As the last gun of the salute thundered across the water, came the strains God Save the King" until the music resounded to the shore. where the hum of thousands or voices swelled its volume.
 Right royalty was Rear Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, and his splendid cruiser squadron, welcomed to the Amer ican metropolis this morning. The squad ron was sighted off Sandy Hook at 6;io n clock. having made the run from An napolis in about twenty-four hours.
 As the squadron passed Governors ls- land, the flagship thundered forth na- tionaI salute of twenty-one guns, which the shore battery that guards the nead- quarters of the army and navy, answered in kind. The sight of them set the whistle of every craft in the harbor snriekins in welcome. Threading their way through a network of incoming and outgoing liners. tugs, ferry boats and ships, large H.
 was hailed with pandemonium of noise' During the early hours hundreos hao gathered along the shore line ana rom every side of the river rom passihs sb,ns crowds doffed hats, and waved handerkerchiefs in greeting to the Visi- tors.
 Throughout this splendid welcome Rear Admiral Prince Louis stood on the art bridge of the Drake pleased and im- nressed. The decks of the cruisers were crowded with men enthusiastic over the scene.
 Scratching down the Hudson awaiting tbe coming of the British squadron Ill full dress, were the twelve men-oi-"ar oe Rear Admiral Evans fleet. the Maine Q, tho fore. the column headed down stream.
 s+eamnp to within 400 yards or the e.oshin Maine, the flagship Drake dronned anchor shortly before o'clock straightway the British cruisers dressed shin. and the royal standard was broken out.
 Although the official saluting between the squadron occurred off Annapolis, as a special mark of courtesy Admiral Evans flagship greeted the royal Standaru with A national salute of twenty-one guns This keenly delighted Prince Louis, who later thanked Admiral Evans wh~n the latter, accompanied by Rear Admirais Davis and Brownson, repaired aDoard the Drake at 9:3O o'clock to felicitate the ad- miral prince on the birthday of his SOW ereign,
 Busy With Official Calls.
 From the time his squadron anchored, Prince Louis had been kept busy re- ceiying and making official calls. He had time. however, this morning to receive a delegation of New York reporters, who were cordially welcomed aboard his flag ship and to whom he talked frankly of his visit to this country.
 Sir Percy Sanderson, the British con su1 general at New York, was the prince s next caller.
 Later, accompanied by the American officers, the consul general Captain Ryan, naval attachee of the British embassy at Washington, Prince Louis visited the navy yard. Awaiting him at the commandant 8 headquarters were Rear Admiral Coghlin. Rear Admiral Sigsbee, commanding the second squadron, and Rear Admiral Dick ins, commanding the coast squadron. The prince next paid his respects to Mayor Mcclellan at the city hall. afterwards go- ing to Governors Island, where he called officially on Brigadier General Grant and was received with military honors. The scene about the ships was a lively one. for in the afternoon the unofficial visitors began to put out from the shore. They came in crafts of all descriptions; they overran the visiting vessels and reviewed the blue jackets. The pressure of boats became so strong that police launch was ordered to see that the rules of the road were observed" It was late in the afternoon before the last of the vis- itors departed. the ship was cleared, and the prince and his officers got ready for the evenings banquet.
 At nightfall the lines of the ships faded from sight, but about o'clock the watch CTS on the river banks saw six British cruisers and the eight little ships of the American first squadron suddenly flash in view, their outlines described by narrow strings of electric lights. Crowds watched the beautiful picture and cheered Admiral Prince Louis as his barge came alongside the boat landing. and the prince, accompanied by the officers of his staff. clambered over the numerous obstruc- tions and entered a waiting carriage, which took him to the Waldorf-Astoria, where he was the guest at the annual dinner of the Association of British Socie- ties The health of the President and King was drunk amid great enthusiasm.