Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18
TY IS GAnY DECORATED
Stars and Stripes Float from Thou.
sands of Craft and Buildings.
OFFICIAL RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Mayor of YOkohama and DipIOmatr
Board Connecticut and Present
Freedom of City to Men
and Omcers.

1t was in the gray hours before dawn
this morning when the ieviathans of Ameri-
| cas- great battleshp fleet were dimly dis
cerned maneuvering off the entrance to
Toxic bay, while sixteen warships, the
pride Of Japan, in sombre color, swung at
their anchor buoys outside the breakwater
encircled by low purple hills. Already
Yokohama was awake and the streets were
crowded with excited people. streaming in
from the surrounding country afoot, in
! ril1ishas or in carriages, making their way
to the water front and to the hills over
looking the bay, to get their first glimpse
of the great fleet.
From thousands OF flagstaffs and buiNl-
| ngs at every point in the big city. floated
| the stars and stripes, and the entire lengths
of miles OF streets were almost walled with
intertwined American and Japanese en-
bems. The bay itself was fairly afame
with bunting, where tugs and steamers
decorated with streamers and pennants
lined the wharves, awaiting thousands of
excursionists who were going out to meet
~the fleet.
Great Crowd Sees Pageant.
Incoming trains throughout the night were
crowded and by morning practically every
vantage point commanding a view of the
| approach Of the sixteen big ships rounding
Honmou Point was occupied by tens of
| thousands eagerly awaiting the coming
naval pageant AS the hours passed and
daylight dawned, II revealed an inspiring
scene afloat and ashore. Even the early
hours made 1t apparent that all expecta-
tions Of great crowds and an enthusiastic
welcome TO the American fleet would be
| exceeded and that all records of the out
pouring Of popular sentiment would be sur
passed. The enthusiasm of the people was
evidently sincere, though mixed with the
natural curiosity to see the big fighting
ships from America, the long and success
full cruise OF which has marked a new
/ epoch In naval history. Foreigners were in
the minority IN the crowds but wherever
| they appeared they were treated with ex-
ceptIonal courtesy because today to the
Japanese all foreigners must be Americans,
/ many of the Japanese being unable to dis
! criminate between Americans and those
from other lands.
First Note of Welcome.
AS the sixteen battleships rounded the
point and came through the entrance to
/ the bay they were accompanied by the
Japanese cruisers Soya, Magami and Tat
] SQtA, COfnnldnOeu Dy EAtdI NUN
kami Proceeding up the coast of Yukasi
the first note OF real welcome was sounded
when a fireworks salute was fired by the
American Friends association" comprised
entirely Of Japanese, who had assembled
/ al Kruhama on the site of Perry's monu-
ment The fleet responded by gracefully
dipping colors. When it came closer in the
fleet was met by seven big ocean liners
chartered by the prefect of Kanagawa,
carrying 5000 persons, including many for
eigners.
/ The air was filled with bursting bombs
sent up from various points and the roar
OF voices was heard even in the city of
Yokohama When the fleet rounded Hon
mou point and came into full view Of the
city of Yokohama, the sixteen assembled
! japanese warships began firing the salute
to the rear admiral i'm command of the
! American fleet. The roar of the guns, the
/ bursting fireworks bombs: the shrek of
/ the steam sirens with the drone of the deep
notes Of the liners filled the air with over
whelming sound. A short bedam broke
loose and words fail to describe the enthusi-
asm of the assembled thousands. ST.
When the American fleet finally came
to anchor It presented an imposing spec
tacle. Thirty-two great warships occupied
four long columns of eight each, the Amer
leans taking the place OF honor in the fore
front. the japanese Immediately behind
them. and heading due south.
OmciaI Reception Committee.
As soon as the fleet came to anchor
reception committee and attaches of the
various foreign embassies and legations
and the mayor OF Yokohama put off from
shore for the flagship Connecticut.
American Ambassador O'Brien did not
come down from Toxic, because under
raval etiquette ne could not be present
until the American commanding the fleet
had paid an official call upon him. The
ambassadors WIFE, however, was present.
together with the women OF the embassy,
as we'll as Consul General Sammons at
Seoul and Mrs. sammons, and Secretary
Jay of the American embassy, all in an
unofficial capacity as guests of the navy.
Francis ]. Loomis. head OF the American
commission 10 the American International
exposition, together with Secretary
OIaughlln and the entire business mems
delegation from the Pacific coast, now on
a visit to Japan, was also present. arriving
in a special train from Toxic early in the
day.
Every vernacular newspaper in Yoko-
hama and Toxic printed special illustrated
editions this morning containing enthusi-
astc articles with reference to the coming
of the American fleet. The entire ciTcula-
ton OF these newspapers will probably