Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-25
SHORE LEAVE GIVEN e

PORT OF SPAIN. Dec. A.-Port of Spain
is preparing to welcome the American feet
OF battlsships with hospitality and good
fellowship. Daylight showed the warships
anchored in four column formation about
four miles from the wharf. The people
crowded the water front TO view the i'm
posing array OF white ships Of war, enter
tainmeht committees completed their final
arrangements and the town rapidly took
on it's hest holiday attire.
Numberiess launches, rowboats, small
yachts and harbor craft Of all sorts began
putting out at an early hour TO take sight
seers over to the American vessels. They
clustered and crulsed about between the
anchored warships, glistening in the sun
light OF warm perfect day while the
crowd voiced Its admiration.
Arrangements are oeing made to send
into town large number OF men who
have been given shore leave.
Rear Admiral Evans called on the gov
ernor OF Trinida&y Sir Henry Moore jack
son, this morning. A party of officers
from the feet are coming ashore this after
noon. The warships this morning are TAX
ing coal from colliers. All on board the
vessels are well.
The tender Yankton arrived during the
night, several hours later than the feet.
1t was unable TO keep up with the other
vessels.
While preparing to leave the harbor the
destroyer whipple's propeller fouled the
anchor chain of the cillier Fortuna, which
delayed the departure OF the fotilla sec
ond time. The torpedo boats had returned
here yesterday after having sailed Sunday,
because of damage to the machinery of the
Lawrence. Divers were sent down to clear
the propeller. II Is expected that the no
tilla will said this afternoon.
Fleet stopped for Burial mt Sea.
NEW YORK, Dec. A.-Special dispatches
from Pert OF Spain, Trinidad, announce
the arrival there Of the Atlantic feet or
its way 10 the Pacific. The fleet is said
60 have passed into the Gulf of Para and
anchored there in four columns, 1--WE miles
off the town According TO the dispatches
the only stop on the trip from Hampton
Roads to Port Of Spain was a temporary
saoranagInept, Of the, Kentucl1y's steering
gear. They alsoAaay that the entire feet
stopped engines for nine minutes Sunday
and half masted their hags while ordinary
Seaman G. Il. Pipes, who died of menin.
gifts aboard the Alabama. was buried
The harbor Of Port of Spain. while wei
protected. is shallow for a long distance
out from the beach and vessels of grea
draught 2like the battleships anchor
long way out. The fleet viii remain in tn,
harbor for several days and will Goa
there. Supplies will also be taken on boarC
from the supply ship Culgoa and the re
frigerator ship Glacier.
Christmas Message Sent.
WASHINGTON. Dec. A-Admirsl Evan
has reported to the Navy department tn
arrival OF abe battleship fleet at Trlnidat
yesterday. The admirars dispatch wa
very brief, simply announcing the srriva
at that place OF the first and second squad
rons OF the fleet and the admirals tender
the Yankton. In the absence of any wore
TO the contrary the inference at the Nav!
department, according to the naval code
is that all are well on board the vessels o
the fleet.
Secretary Metcalf today sent the follow
ing Christmas greeting to the officers AM
men Of the Atlantic battleship fleet an
the torpedo destroyer fiotilla:
Evans, Port of Spain. Trinidad-The de
partment extends TO you. officers and me-
under your command. the best wishes 10
METCALF.
This message will be read to the me
tomorrow aboard the various ships of tn
feet and fiotilla or will be posted in
conspicuous place where 1t may be readil
seem by them. over 1900 officers an
men are now at Port OF Spain, so that tn
secretary's message will be n greeting I
them all. The message was sent by wire
less telegraph via San Juan.