The sun., 1908-02-21
PERU WELCOMES THE FLEET
NOGREATER ENTHUSIASM SHOWN
ON TRIP THAN AT CALLAO.
4 General Holiday There ana At LlmA-Ths
People VIVID with JOy-B1IlnSht tho
star Feature Of tho Festivities to
Comedians ID Wen and On Duty.

NAAIAOs EOEus roO- 9O.-Auo AuAoElcAn
hattleship feet. Rear Admiral Evans com-
uanding. arrived here at $50 o'clock this
morning. having travelled some ten thou
sand miles since il sailed from Hampton
Roads on December rs.
From Punta Arenas the scheduled crIis-
ing speed Of ten knots an hour was main
famed. The Peruvian cruiser Bolognesi.
which had been dispatched for the purpose,
met the feet at sen yesterday afternoon
aud escorted it 10 this port. While the
Connecticut. the flagship Of Admiral Evans,
was 500 miles distant from this port WIRE
less message was receivsd from Senior
Pardo, President Of Peru. extending a
hearty welcome TO the feet In the name OF
himself and the Peruvian people. Admiral
Evans Immediately sent a reply thanking
President Pardo FOR his message.
Callao was thronged to-day with thou
lands Of persons from Lima and other
paces who had come to the city to see the
feet and welcome Il. In none OF the ports
at which the wsrships have ecalled-rrnidad,
Rio de Janciro and Punta Arenas-has such
enthusiasm been displayed as was shown
tere.
This was due without question in a great
measure to the recent visit of Secretary OF
state Root. which established a special
feeling OF friendship between Peru and the
United States. Furthermore the Peru
mans have always maintained a friendly
feeling for the Americans ever since the
war between Peru and Chile in 1874. when
the United States supported Peru. Con-
pequently the greeting extended to the
visitors to-day was marked by the greatest
heartiness, and the Americ ans practically
own the town
Two oce1n steamers loaded with ex
rursonists met the warships some distance
- sea and steamed as close 10 them as was
rorsistent with safety shouts Of welcome
and cries Of viva los Americanos!" and
Viva los Estadoe Unidosl" frequently
reached the ears of those aboard the war
shirs and we're understood even by those
whcee knowledge OF Spanish was exceed
ingly fragmentaTy.
The enthusiasm displayed by this first
contingent of Peruvians, however. was
not 10 be compared with that shown by
the people ashore, many of whom fairly
oome. ....D
rke day was obseTVed a. a general holt
day not only here but In Lima. the capital.
NJ the stores in both cities we're closed
70 give aisNoppprtuuityy y0all the employees
80 @ 20 the waterfront to see and welcome
ne American vessels. u 10 doubtful II
rsuso ever saw such crowd Of visitors
from the surrounding country before.
throughout the city were posted placards
earring ahAographed Representations OF
tho American hag and words Of welcome.
fLese had been put up by order OF the
Government.
Greet preparations have been made for
'bc entertainment OF the visitors. both
cfice-s and bluejaCkets. Official visits
iii te exchanged tomorrow. President
Pardo will give dinner to $50 officers OF
tho Hect on Saturday. There will be a
regatta in the harbor on Sunday. in which
native boats end boats from the warships
viii 'eke part,
IRE most spectacular and biggest event
on ,ho programme is a special bullhght,
vhlch will be held ON Monday under the
auspices cf the Government. This will be
offended by 400 officers and 200 men.
o. Tuesday the municipality will give a
garden party i'm the exposition grounds,
ror which n great number Of invitations
have been issued. It will be attended by
III the high State. municipal. military and
naval officers and by all the members Of
The highest society. On Thursday Rear
Admiral Evans will give a dinner on board
tha Connecticut in return for the cour-
tesies extended to him and his officers by
rhs Peruvian Government. The feet will
give an entertainment on Friday. On Sat-
urdsy tho feet will sail for Magdalena
Raw. where considerable time will be spent
IN gun practice.
IN addition 10 the official programme
many private entertainments have been
rrrsngod. and everybody is looking for
ward to a Jolly time during the fleets stay
here.
Four Of the ships will begin coaing to-
morrow The others will proceed to sea TO
wing around and adjust their compasses.
some will go out tomorrow for this pur-
rose and the others viii 60 Saturday.
Many minstrel shows viii be given on
different evenings aboard the various ships.
~ which people from ashore viii be In
ylted There will also be displays OF moving
n"tures. some Of the crews having pur-
chased machines for this purpose. The
men have behaved with the greatest cir
"unlspection In all the ports visited. and
"ply a comparatively few OF them will be
deprived Of shore liberty here.
The fleet passed the cruiser Chicago at
o'clock in the afternoon OF February Is.
The Chicago was bound south, trailing a
hoIneward bound pennant- Salutes and
"a ssing honors were exchanged.
The fleets passage Of the Straits Of Magel-
Ian from Punta Arenas was unsventful.
For the last thirty miles Of the passage
thick fog prevailed. which compelled extra
csrefulDess in navigation. The ships en-
tered the Pacific just a. it was becoming
dark. For a few hours heavy soA was
encountered. Subsequently tho feg settled
down again. and this condition lasted on
and on for days.
The Chilean cruiser ChacabucO. which
had been despatched TO PuntA Arenas 70
welcome the feet there, escorted the war
ships up the Chilean coast. cxCept for one