The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-14
round OF Pleasure Lasting Four
Days Has Been Prepared.
DINNERS AND DANCES.
PIcnics and Good Things to Eat
Free for the Men.
Grand Review at Frisco VIII
Include FOrty-Three Vessels.

|So' Sdi, April l4.-ltS long
ana notaple cruise through the south
ern seas and the changing climes of
the western hemisphere ended, the
american battleship fleet now under
immediate command of Rear Admiral
Cnarles M. Thomas, entered home
waters today. 1t cast anchor or
coronado beach this afternoon at
O'Clock and four days of the sched-
uied stay of the 16 ships will be
marked by ceaseless round of
gayeties. Dinners, dances and picnics
Ior the officers, free theaters, wild
west SHOWS, fruit and good things to
eat, Tor the enlisted men are in
cluded in the long and variegated pro-
gramme.
The California cities have i'm.
patiently awaited the coming of the
ships and their joy now knows no
bounds. Scarcely had the big white
vessels left Hampton Roads before
the official committees of WELCOME
had been named along the Pacific
coast. The plans and prenarafions
nave been going ahead steadily since
that time and now the last of the de-
tails nave been completed. The fleet
mas practically an entire month ~
merry making before it for after
san Diego extends the first of the well
comes there comes a week at Los
Angeles. five days at Santa Barbara
and five days divided between
monterey and Santa Cruz and 10 DAYS
or more in San Francisco.
Governor j. N. GiIlett of California.
is the representative of the state 70
voice the welcome of the entire peo-
pie OF the Pacific coast Thousands
OF sight seers from far and near have
gathered in San Diego to catch their
first glimpse of the ships that have
held SO much of the public attention
since they set out upon their globe
girdling expedition. Nowhere in fhe
United States do the fires of patriot
ism burn brighter than here on the
edge of the blue water of the Ps-
clfic. The California cities are yieine
one with the other in the lavishment
OF hospitality upon officers and men
of the navy. They have never before
seen battIeshfps of the Connectfcut
type and the coming of the great
fleet is an event fraught to them with
much meaning.
After the long stretches of sea runs.
after the hospitable entertainment ~
the people of South America after
four months of foreign scenes and
tongues, after the desolate shores az
Magdalena bay, after more than 13. 600
miles of steaming, the men of the fleet
unu Here-oU,OUU miles from their start
ing place in December last-people of
their own race and blood people with
arms outstretched, people whose pat
riotic pride in the navy is only equal
led by their pride OF state and who are
anxious that the stay in California
shall live long in the memory of the
blue jacketed sailors
Rear Admiral RobIey D. Evans, who
is i'll at Paso Robles Hot Springs. will
not be able to be present during any
of the celebration in this city and IL
is considered extremely doubtful il he
will be able to participate in any Of
the fetes south of San Francisco. The
great official and spectacular events of
the fleets stay on the Pacific coast
will be the grand review of the COM
bined Atlantic and Pacific naval forces
in San Francisco harbor on Nav g.
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf will re-
view the ships on the gunboat York.
town and there will be 43 vessels in
the four anchored lines. They will IN
clude is battleships, eight immense
armored cruisers, a number of protect
ed cruisers. two torpedo boat f1otillas
and several auxiliaries. the whole ag-
gregating a tonnage greater than any
array of war vessels ever assembled in
A N