The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-02-05
FLEET BOYS WON
BRAZILIAN HEARTS
HOW THE GREAT AMERICAN
FLEET SAILED AWAY FROM
RIO DE JANEIRO


booming of guns and the cheers of
thousands ON the accompanying pleas
ure craft, the American war ships
sailed from Rio Janeiro this afternoon,
bound for Punta Arenas in Magellan
Straits Ten days will bring the fleet
almost midway on its $4,000 mile
cruise to San Francisco and the ships
and the men carried with them today
the Godspeed and good wishes of the
whole Brazilian nation
Not an untoward incident had
marked the visit of the Americans
| here They were Toasted and feted,
both officers and men during their So
journ in Rio, and half the population
turned out from early in the morning
to give them fitting farewell As
upon the arrival of the fleet, SO upon
| its departure, the Quays the public
buildings and hills were crowded with
thousands watching the war ships I'M
til they had disappeared
The President Of the republic, Dr..
Penna, came to Rio Janeiro from Pc
tropolis about II o'clock. and pro-
ceded on the yacht Sylvia to where
the war ships were lying. He went
aboard the cruiser Benjamin Constant,
which was in readiness to accompany
! the American fleet, and made a tour Of
all the American ships. Accompanied
| by Admiral Alencar, Minister of Ma
rine, and DR.. |. Muller Minister OF
Public Works, and other high officials
he visited the divisional flagship
Minnesota, remaining there about an
hour. Admiral Thomas commander of
the flagship, Captain Hubbard and the
American ambassador, Irving B. Dud-
! ley, received him with all honors and
the band played the Brazilian national
anthem. In the saloon of the Mime
sofa there was a mutual exchange of
greetings. Admiral Thomas made a
| little speech, in which he expressed his
best wishes for the prosperity of Bra
I'll and her President, concluding with
Brazil, God bless you forevermore.
The President responded with a
thousand wishes for a good voyage
for the splendid fleet, prosperity for
| the United States and the health of
President Roosevelt.
! While the President was aboard the
Minnesota and during his trip among
the vessels salutes were exchanged,
and on his departure from the flag
! ship twenty-one guns were fired. Dr.
| Penna then returned to his yacht,
which proceeded to a point off Fort
! Villagegon to watch the departure of
| the ships. About 3 o'clock the Amer
lean fleet began to move, passing out
in single column, and in inverse order.
according to divisions, the Alabama
leading. The three divisions of the
Brazilian navy followed, composed of
three battleships seven cruisers and
six destroyers. In the vicinity of Fort
! Villagegon steamers circled about,
having on board thousands of spec
tators from shore Hundreds of launch
es and small craft from the sporting
clubs, all gayly decorated, were there
also, forming a stirring spectacle.
The great war ships moved slowly
at first, but as they disappeared from
view they were steaming at a ten
knot pace. One by one as they passed
the Presidents yacht they saluted
with twenty-one guns, and the forts
replied in kind. There was much wav-
ing of small flags and handkerchiefs.
and the cheers seemed incessant. The
blowing of a hundred whistles in the
steam craft added to the noise. About
this time a heavy shower fell but the
majority of the spectators held to their
posts until the last war ship had dis
appeared on the horizon.
Captain r. r. Ingersoll, chief of staff
to Rear-Admiral Evans on being in
terviewed before the departure of the
fleet, said that he had no special plans
for the passage of the ships through
Magellan straits. They will go
through, however, he said, as a solid
| fleet.
The German cruiser Bremen, which
has been here for some time, and re-
Gently was order to remain until the
departure of the American fleet to
give the German officers additional
time to make observations, left today
with the American ships.
Commenting on the departure of the
| fleet, the Journal of Commerce today
said: THE great procession will soon
be set in motion and the fleet will be
on its away again, but in the few days
Of its stay friendships have been made
and sympathies won which will have a
far-reaching effect in the years to come.
The ships will at shutdown have faded
on the horizon and will be blowing
their way to the Pacific, Rio Janeiro
will have become for them thing Of
the past, but we hope and trust that,
from the commander-in-chief to the
humbest member of the fleet, feelings
of friendship esteem and admiration