Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-26
THE FLEET SAILS.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

message to the Emperor Of Japan u
as follows:
His Majesty, the Emperor of japan.
..ThrOuch the American ambassador
l wish in this personal manner 10 eH-
tend to Your Majesty the thanks OF the
American people for the signal sener-
os;ty. courtesy and hospitality with
which 1hc American fleet has been re-
ceived on it's visit to Japan. The people
Of the United States have been deeply
touched by this fresh and striking
proof of friendship and regard
..The officers Of the fleet report that,
hearty though their reception mas beer
everywhere else, it has nowhere been
more hearty. nowhere more hospitaDlc
than in Japan. On benalf or tHis ma
ton I desire to express my acknoWi-
edeements to you and to say how deep
w this nation appreciates this fresh
rroof and seal of the ancient trlcnG-
ship between the two peoples.
Your message to me was not only
deeply appreciated by me, but when
published gave lively satisfaction to
all the citizens of the United States.
again thanking you, l am,
Your friend,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Satisfaction pervades all official cir
cles that Admiral Sperrys batt;eship
fleet leaves japan without single un-
toward incident having occurred to
mar the visit The splendid behavior
of the men, the excellent discipline
maintained throughout the visit and
thorough good feeling exhibited on
every hand, serves to emphasize, the
officials say, the high class of men IN
tire American navy and the good feel
ing existing between the two nations.
The navy department Saturday made
public a dispatch from Admiral Sperry,
in which he says that the fleet leaves
Japan feeling that the visit has been
profoundly successful and beneficent
in effect, and that he has the strOag-
est private assurances from officials
that the same feeling prevails through
out the whole government.
One squadron of the admirafS fleet
viii now go TO Annoy, China, and the
other to Mania for target practice
Toxic, Oct 25.-After weeks suspen-
sion of almost every kind of business be-
cause of the presence of the American
fleet in japanese waters. and so that fit
ting welcome might be given the Ameri-
can officers and sailors. Toxic is resumine
its normal conditions.
President Roosevelt's message to the
Emperor was presented to him through
Count Komura, the foreign minister, and
the Emperor will probably make reply to-
morrow, but there is no reason to expect
that the Emperor's message will contain
other than a graceful acknowledgment
and an expression Of qualification at the
Presidents warm words of appreciation.
Nothing could possibly exceed in the
public mind in Japan the significance OF
the EmperorS prOfuse message.
The departure of the fleet this morning
was one of the prettiest sights. The flag
ship Connecticut slipped her cable at eX-
actly 5 o'clock. She steamed past the
Louisiana and saluted and was followed
by the remainder of the first squadron.
When the eight ships had passed. the
Louisiana led the second line and the en-
tire feet then formed in single column
AS each of the American battleships
passed the head of the Japanese column
the crews of the ships of both nations
cheered enthusiastically and the band on
each of the American ships played the
Japanese national hymn. When the last
of these Is ships was saluting, the Con-
recticut was invisible on the horizon. In
exactly 50 minutes the entire maneuver
had been completed.
The Japanese naval men are loud in
their praise of the behavior of the Ameri
can sailors and are especially appreca
tive of Pear Admiral Srerry's bearing
throughout The last hours of the blue
Jackets stay ashore. however was rath-
er disastrous to the record of non-ab-
sentees. Since midnight Saturday 70 men
have been reported missing, but the ma
jority of these were picked up today and
will be placed board the Yankton,
which will sail Tuesday. No actual case
of desertion has occurred. for it is be-
lieved that in every instance those who
failed to report when their ships sailed
were simply suffering from excess of hos
pitaHty.
All the members of the United States
commission to the Toxic Exposition will
be decorated by the Emperor.