Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-16
WELCOMETOFLEE
sArTLEsHIPs RIDE At ANCHOR
At SAN DIEGO AFTER
LONG CRUISE.
ON A CALM SUMNER SEA
Cow Gillette Was There % offcla''
~ Receive Them-Arrlved 10
Minutes Aheaj Of An.
nouneed Time.

San Diego, Cal, apr ~
American battleship feet sailed tues
day on a summer, sea. Sapphire
waters, rejecting the deep blue OF 9
cloudless southern sky; tropical
islands jutting boldly out of the ocean
in the path Of the western horizon,
mile Of sandy beach crowded with en-
| thusiastic patriots proud to welcome
the navy to California and the green
lawns and towering gardens of Coro'
nado formed the setting for the most
notable marine spectacle the west
coast OF the United States has ever
known. In four ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
columns, with fagships leading
abreast and pointing the way to the
first home anchorage, the fleet has
found in Its four months OF cruising
around the southern-most end OF the
western hemisphere, the IL SHIPS
swept into the sheltered cove OF the
sea behind the towering headlands oil
Point Iona and halted for four days
Of merry-making for men and ofiicers'
Gov. James NJ Gillett was here OF
ficially to welcome the feet and his
call upon Rear Admiral Thomas, com
manding in the absence OF Rear Al
miral Robley D. Evans, who took the
feet out Of Hampton. Roads last De
cember, was repaid during the after
noon. Local committees also went 70
the Connecticut to tell Admiral Thorn
as and through him all the men o.
the feet how glad the people Of Cali
fornia are TO see such splendid repre-
sentation Of the American navy as tht
''battle feet constitutes. Tuesday
Admirals Thomas. Sperry and Emory
and the commanding officers and mem
bers of the various stats were enter
tafned at an elaborate but informa
dinner at the Hotel Del Coronado. i
was their first taste Of the hospltabl'
functions which have been planned Il
: their honor all the way to San Fran
!, cisco and beyond. Coming after tn
decidedly limited fare offered by tn
. desolate country surrounding Magda
lena bay, the daintles furnished wer
!. rarely relished. The beauty of tn
u day spectacle when with flashing sit
y mails and wonderfully executed maner
i yers the ships were brought to ancho
in the lazy rolling Pacific waters wa
rivaled Tuesday night when for thre
hours every vessel was outlined i
9 IRE. Thousands of incandescent bulb
i, were strung along deck lines. up mil
d tary masts, far out on the signal var
u arms, up and down the huge funnel
1t and down to the waters edge at ster
e and stern. In fairy-like form th
!. ships stood out against the night an
le IN letters six feet high the name
70 every vessel was spelled across II
ID forward bridge. The glow Of the light
r. flooded the sea for thousands OF yard
away, the cleaning outlines shimme
ling In phantom-like reflections.
;. During half an hour Of the period
:, illumination searchlight display wa
= made, adding Infinitely to the wonde
!, full effect. The flashing shafts OF poV
- erful white lights were sent dancin
y, over the waves, playing now and the
: : On the crowded beach Of the brillian
!. lly illuminated hotel, then reaching q
y away to the south to conjure frcm u
y night the peaks Of the coastal RAM
:, OF mountains which mark the bou