The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-25
Lively Scenes Greet American Sailors. MANY ALLOWED TO GO ASHORE Jackies Revelled in Baseball and
 Other Sports. Admiral Evans And officers Paid off, cial Visit To Governor--Town
 h In Holiday At-
 k tire.
MANY ALLOWED TO GO ASHORE

Port of Spain, Dec. 24-The first day of the officers and men of the Amer ican battIeship fleet at this port prov ed an enjoyable one. Bright sunshine favored the visitors and after every thing was made shipshape on board the battleships. 2,000 men were per mitted to come ashore. The omcers of the fleet, to the number of a hun dred or more, attended garden party at which they had the opportunity of meeting a number of the public men of the Port of Spain.
 Numberless launches, row boats, small yachts and harbor craft Of all sorts began putting out at an early hour to take sightseers over to the American vessels. They clustered and bruised about between the anchored war ships, glistening in the sunlight of a warm, perfect day while the crowd voiced it's admiration.
 Sir Henry Moore Jackson, governor of the Port of Spain, accompanied by his stan, returned the visit Of Rear Admiral Evans which the American commander had made in the morning, and extended to him and some fifty of the superior officers an invitation to luncheon.
 All through the day the great Amer ican ships, as well as those who man ned them. were objects of curiosity to the entire population. who. found time to make the occasion gala one. The town put on its best attire in honor of the visiting fleet.
 The torpedo boat fiotilla, which started on it's way to Para Sunday. was forced to return on account Of damage to the machinery of the de- stroyer Lawrence. As the fiotilla was preparing to leave the harbor again today the Whipp1e's propeller fouled the anchor chain of the collier For tuna, and second halt was called to the expedition south. Divers went to work at once to clear the propel- Ter and 1t was expected that the nor killa would set, under, way tonight z There will be numerous functions socially here i'm honor of the Amer lean ofIlcers ana one day will be g5v- sn over to the races
 Two thousand of the men of the bat tleship fleet were granted liberty this afternoon and were warmly welcomed by the .populace when they landed. They gave themselves up to the en- joyment of sightseeing and playing baseball and other games. The town presents 8 lively appearance.
 An Attractive Town.
 The city of Port of Spain lies on 8 hill on the Gulf of Para, west side of
 
 the cleanest and attractive and com- fortable towns in the West Indies. From the bay the view of the port Is bright and beautiful; white walled houses capped with red roofs nestle among luxuriant and brilliant tropical foliage: in the foreground sparkle the blue waters of the gulf. while behind the town the encircling hills make a frame of changing hues
 It Is an English town, English is the tongue of the blacks. Christmas Is observed in the English way and the men of our fleet will get an English welcome It is z modern town with well paved street, good street car ser vice, good stores and hotels, attrac- tive tropical parks and extensive gar dens. There are several clubs. some in the city and others in the nearby country. The famous Trinidad asphalt lake is sixty miles from Port of Spain. It supplies, under lease to an American company, raw material for American pavements. The waters of the bay are shallow and vessels of deep draft have to anchor some distance out. The climate at this season is warm and pleasant.