Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-15
CHILE GREETS FLEET
Valparaiso Cheers Passing of
 American BattIeships.
THE PRESIDENT REVIEWS IT.

Occasion Is Made Holiday by Citizens
 of Southern Republic, Thousands of
 Whom Flock to See Yankee Armada
 Steam North.
 Valparaiso, Chile, Feb. 15 The | American fleet of sixteen battleships,
 under the command of Rear Admiral
 Evans, passed Valparaiso and contin-
 ued its voyage northward for Callao,
 Peru, the next stopping place. All
 Valparaiso and thousands of persons from every city in Chile witnessed the passing of the fleet. President Montt and the other high officials of the re- public came out from shore to greet l the battleships, and almost the entire Chilean navy exchanged salutes with them as they swung around Curau- milla point and into Valparaiso bay in single file, headed by the Chilean cruis- CT Chacabuco and five Chilean destroy | CTS.
 Turning sharp around Curaumilla point, the Chacabuco and the five Chi lean destroyers led the Connecticut and her fifteen sister ships into the view of the thousands who had awaited their appearance since dawn. The day was perfect, and the spectacle as seen from the high hills around the bay was magnificent.
 Ships and City Decorated.
 President Montt and .other Chilean officials embarked on the training ship General Baquedano and took position we'll out in the harbor. Around the Ba- quedano the fleet swung at speed of four knots, each ship firing presi- dents salute as it passed. It was one hour from the time the head of the fleet entered the bay until the last ves- sel had passed the presidents ship and turned toward the open sea. Then the Baquedano lifted anchor and escorted the fleet well out of the bay on it's way to the north. It was review such as had never before been seen in Valpa- raiso bay, and the sight will long be remembered by the people of Chile who came to witness it.
 The shipping in the harbor and the principal buildings in the city were decorated, the day being observed as a holiday, in honor of the fleet. On the picturesque, sloping hills, dotted with houses, a profusion of bunting and waving flags could be seen from the bay. Thousands of persons from San tago and other places in the republic had come into Valparaiso, and the roofs of the Bolsa Commercial, with its two huge towers; the custom house, the large warehouses and other buildings along the circular road skirting the bay front were black with spectators.
 Chileans Cheer Fleet LustiIy.
 The enthusiasm of the Chileans was almost boundless, and they fcheered lustily as each battleship of the fleet swept around the reviewing ship, their sides lined with tackles in immaculate white and the bands playing patriotic airs. The noise of the cheering was lost, however, in that of the saluting guns from the fort and the fleet. Al together 1,200 shots were fired.
 After the fleet had passed to the northward a dinner was served on board the General Baquedano by Pres ident Montt in honor of the diplomatic corps and his other guests. Toasts were drunk to President Roosevelt and 1 Admiral Evans and his officers, crews | and ships, and all the speeches ex- pressed the wish that the Americans | might have fair weather and safe | passage to their destination.
 In the city of Valparaiso celebrations | of every kind are going on, and ev- anywhere may be heard words of praise of Admiral Evans for having honored Valparaiso with visit
 Torpedo Fleet at Puerto Montt.
 A dispatch from Puerto Montt, Chile, states that the American destroyer tio- fila arrived at that place after a safe and pleasant pssage through the chan nels from the strait of Magellan along the coast of Chile. It was plloted safely through by Lieutenant Rozas of the Chilean navy. The Americans ..,a-o. ,.o.3oa ,,.s.t. |