The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-29
FLEET SAILS AGAIN
AMERICAN BATTLEsHTPs OFF FOR
 RIO JANEIR0.
Compasses Are Adjusted, Engines, Boilers And All The Machinery Have Been Overkauled For,
 The Trip.

s Port of Spain. Dec, 28-The Amefi- can fleet will sail for Rio Janeiro to- morrow. probably at an early hour. The battleships have been given final preparations for the long voyage and are now looking spick and span. The engines, boilers and all the machinery have been overhauled and everything is in first class condition for the trip.
 Rear Admiral Evans. on his flag ship Connecticut and accompanied by the Alabama, the flagship of Rear Admiral Sperry, the Illinois, the Rear sarge and the Kentucky, steamed out into the gulf this morning to adjust compasses They returned about noon. During the stay of the fleet in port, considerable time has been devoted to important drills. with the big and small guns, torpedo and torpedo de- lenses.
 Many of the blue jackets again en- joyed shore leave today and the of ficers of the New Jersey and Virginia had base ball match this afternoon,
 The news of the naval controversy in the United States which had been cabled here and in which Surgeon Gen eral Rixey and Admiral Brownson figure prominently. is exciting con siderable interest among the officers of the fleet but they refuse to publicly express their views regarding 1t.
 In Honor of Fleet.
 Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 2S.--As the day for the arrival here of the American battleships under Rear Admiral Evans approaches, interest in the festivities that will be given in honor of the American officers increases.
 The preparations are now almost en- tireIy completed and while the pro- gram has not yet been issued official ly, it is easy to perceive that theipeo- ple are anxious and eager to repay well the welcome extended to Brazil at Washington and Norfolk last sum mer.
 President Penna will entertain all the American admirals, number of the officers and Irving B. Dudley, the American ambassador, at a dinner to be given at the Presidential palace in Patropolis, The minister of marine will invite the admirals, the comman- ders and other officers to 'prome- made lunch" on Corcovada mountain two miles from Rio Janerio, while the naval club will offer a similar enter tainment at Tijuca Park. A banquet of six hundred covers will be given In the Monroe pavilion by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baron de Rio Bran co. On this occasion Dr. Ruy Barbosa, president of the senate, will deliver a speech of welcome.
 On January IS, MT. Dudley will give a reception in honor of the American officers at his residence in Metropolis. Forty rooms in the best hotel at Pe- tropolis already have been reserved for the use of the American visitors. News come here from Peru of the prep arations- being made by the governors of that country to entertain the of- ficers of the American fleet when they reach the west coast. President Pardo will give them a banquet of three hun dred covers. the minister of marine is making preparations for great ball, for which twelve hundred invitations have been sent out and the govern ment will give to each officer an ai- hum containing a collection of Peru vian photographs,