Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-15
The Sixteen Naval FIghlIag Machines
Which Sailed from Hampton
Roads December IS
al San Diego.
CALIFORNIA GREETINGS
Governor of tho Commonwealth was
There to Welcome the ouicera and
Men to the State =ea Thousands
From Southern California Were on
Hand to Cheer and Greet sailors -
Fleet Presented Beautiful picture,
(Dy AssoeIated presal


tl'y Associated Presa)
SAN DnIGO. CAL. Anrii ,a--The
american batlleship fleet sailed today
On summer sea. SAPPHIRE water. re-
llec'ing the deep blue of cloudless
southern sky; tropical islands mttln..
lRe path of the western borizon !,
mile of sandy beach crowded Wit. am
lhusiastic patriots proud to welcome
me navy TO California and .he pi.4n
lawns and lowering gardens of Cor
ohado formed the setting OF the most
notable marine spectacle the west
coast OF the United States has ever
known. In four regularly interyalet
columns with fingahips leading abtcaAr
and pointing the way for the s,si
nome anchorage, the fleet has for,ul
III Its four months OF cruising aronnu,
lie scuthermost end of the Western
Hemisphere. the 10 ships swept hts
the sheltered cove of the sea behind
inc towering heSldlnndg OF Point I.o.nn
and halted for four days OF me,fy-
making for men and officers.
Governor James N. Gillette was here
officially to welcome the ileet ana tia
call was paid during the afternoon.
Local committeas also went to the
Connecticut to tell Admiral Thomas
and through him all the men OF the
lleet how glad the people of Calilot-
, MIA are to see such sple6Litl exhib-
'ition OF tho American navy as the
| fleet embraces.
Tonight Admirals Thomas. sporrv
ana Emory and the commanding OH
GERS OF the various STATS were entar-
tanned at nm elaborate. but Iuiorma.
dinner at lie Hotel Del Corona.
Beautiful illumination.
The beauty of the days spectacle.
when the ships We're brought TO an
chor III the lazy rolling Pacific va
! ,ers, was rlvaled tonight, when for
three honrs every vessel was outlined
III hre The fleet let go It's nnchors
at l2;47 p. IN. For two hours The.
ships had been in sight and their
coming had bsen watched with wonder
by the waiting throngs. So engross-
ed We're they in the beauty OF ths
scene that they forget to cheer. 49, -.
! Never before have armor clads OF
tne connecticut type. displaying more
imam 10000 tons, been seen along the
racine coast. Rear Admiral Charles
NJ. Thomas. commanding. was on the
bridge of the Connecticut rs the feet
steamed to It's anchorage. The ab4
sence OF Rear Admiral Evans. who
Is Ill at Paso Robes. Is deeply regret
ted on all sides.
Admiral Thomas, at the dinner re-
ferred to the matter with much feel-
ing.
To the left of the Connecticut
steamed the Georgia, flagship of Rear
Admiral Emory, commanding the sec
ond division and in her wake were
theRhode Island. Virginia and New
Jersey. The thirs line from tina
, shore was headed by the Alabama.
flagship of Rear Admiral Sperry, who
Is now in command OF the second
squadron. and third division. hit
soon 10 be the senior officer OF thu
entire fleet.
With the Alabama were the Illinois,
Kearsarge aid Kentucky. The fourth
outward column was headed by the
Maine. with Captain Giles u. Hnrbor
in command OF the division which In
cluded the Missouri, Ohio and Min
nesota.
Greeted By Governor.
AS soon as the Connecticut let 90
her anchors Colonel Thomas wilhelm.
U. S. A.. retired on the staff of Cow
enor Gillette as assistant inspector
general. put out from the shore and
was received on board the fiagshlp
he presented the compliments of the
governor to Admiral Thomas and snid
the chief executive of California
wished to call aud pay his respects
land formally extend welcome to
California waters.
Admiral Thomas replied that he
wonld he glad to receive Governor
Gillette and his STAFF at 2.3u p, M. At
that hour the governor accompanied