Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-19
FIRST AROUND WORLD
BattIeship Maine Arrives at
Portsmouth, N. H.
GUNS THUNDER SALUTE
Docked Amid Cheers After IS, OOO-
Mile Journey.
ALABAMA IS DUE TOMORROW
Both Vessels Sailed With Pacific
Fleet and Were Detailed for
Special Service.
ALABAMA IS DUE TOMORROW

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., October 49,
The United States battleship Maine. after
making a circuit of the globe, was Sight
ed off the entrance to Portsmouth har-
Dor at am. today, under a convoy Of
three tugs. which had waited outside te
meet her. A thick bank Of fog delayed
the arrival somewhat, but the Maine
was successfully locked at SIS am. LAS
she swung around Henderson's Point, un-
der her own steam, her guns doomed out
rear admirars salute of thirteen guns
which was Immediately answered by a
commanders salute of seven guns by
the navy yard battery.
The Maine was escorted by the three
tugs on her way to the navy yard, but
came all the distance under her owr
steam. AS the battleship was warped
into dock the tackles on board and
those stationed in the yard gave ven,
to prolonged cheers.
The battleship Maine, on swinging te
anchor at the Portsmouth navy yard
ended, together with the battleships Ala
bama, which is expected to arrive
at the New York navy yard tomorrow
the most spectacular around the world
cruise ever made by a frst-class modern
warship. During the voyage, which was
started from Hampton roads, and which
consumed 3OS days, the two vessels GOV.
cred about $4,000 miles.
Left With Pacific Fleet.
The Alabama and Maine left Hampton
roads December 16. 1907, with the Allan
tic battleship fleet on its cruise through
the Straits Of Magellan to the Pacific
the former as flagship of Rear Admiral
Charles II. Sperry, commanding the
fourth division, and the Maine. attached
TO the third division. During the voyage
or the fleet to Magdalena bay the Maine
and the Alabama were the scene of many
festivities given during the exchange OF
greetings at Port of Spain, Rio Janeiro
March II at Magdalena bay, the naval
base OF the Pacific for American target
practice military and naval officers the
world over commented On the wonderful
feat Of seamanship displayed in the 1900
mile voyage, which was considered proof
Of the excellent material as we'll as the
personnel in the makeup of the fleet.
Special Service Squadron.
After the successful conclusion of the
fleets cruise to the Pacific it was an
nounced that the warships would return
to the Atlantic station by the way of the
Philippine Islands and the Suez canal
and the Maine and Alabama were de-
tached from the fleet upon the recon-
Of Rear Admiral Evans and or
ganized into a special service squadron
under command of Capt. Giles B. HARDER,
commander of the Maine. Their places in
the fleet were supplied by the battleships
Wisconsin and Nebraska.
The detachment of the Alabama and
the Maine from the combined fleet was
duo in the case of the Alabama to her in
ferior engines and in the case of the
Maine to her limited steaming capacity.
The steaming radius of the Maine without
recoaling Is limited to 300 miles. The
engines Of the Alabama, 1t is said. proved
unequal to those of the other battleships
and it was feared that she might retard
the passing of the fleet should they break
down.