The Topeka state journal., 1908-10-24
SPERRY PLEASED.
Delighted With Reception of
Americans in Japan.
A Sincere Desire to Cultivate
Friendly Relations.
AT YOKOHOMA TODAY.
Will Sail Tomorrow Under jap
anese Escort.
One Squadron to PhiIippines.
At YOKOHOMA TODAY.
One Squadron to Philippines,
Other to Hong Kong.

Yokohama, Oct. 24.-On the eve of
the departure of the American battle
ship fleet after a week of continuous
holiday of celebration, Yokohama was
today the liveliest and most brilliant
city in the Far East. The bay swarm
ed with launches darting hither and
| thither among the thirty-six stately
warships anchored outside the break
water. The populace in tens of thous-
| ands lined every available portion of
the water front.
Representative of every department
| of the government, the diplomatic
corps and the consuls of all the most
prominent nations in the world were
| the guests at a luncheon and recep-
| tion given aboard the flagship Con-
necticut today. The reception, which
was a gratifying evidence of the popu-
larity of the Americans, were attended
| by upwards of 8 900 persons prominent
| in official and civil life.
Sailing at s o'clock tomorrow the
American fleet will head directly to-
ward Olongapo, in the Philippines. At
| the outset of the cruise the warships
will be escorted by japanese squad
| ron composed of the battleshipS Ka-
| tori, Kashi Tsukuba and Ikoma. Vice
Admiral Katow will board the Con-
necticut half an hour before the time
set for departure to deliver the official
| farewellS on behalf of the Japanese
government and will then proceed to
the flagship Mikasa, after which the
| fleets will exchange Salutes. The
American battleships will steam out of
the bay in single column, forming in
double column when outside the har-
I Dor and laying course straight for
| Olongapo.
Rear Admiral Emory will command
| the second squadron as far as Hong
| Kong, when he will lower his flag and
! proceed homeward via Europe. Cap
| tain William P. Potter. who has COM
| manded the Vermont, will take the
rank of rear admiral in command of
the second division and raise his flag
on the Louisiana.
Sperry Is Impressed.
In an interview given exclusively to
the Associated Press tonight Rear
Admiral Sperry said:
IT am deeply impressed by the sin
| certify of the Japanese government and
| people in the welcome they have ex-
| lantic fleet. Nothing could exceed the
lavish hospitality we have been shown.
| but it is not alone upon the wonder
full variety and scope of the entertain
ment that we base this estimate. 1t
/ was rather the attitude of the whole
| people of Japan to towards the United
| States.
1--WE have had unusual opportuni-
ties Of meeting the representative peo-
| pie of this country and 1 am speaking
as we'll for the officers and men of
| the fleet when I say to the Associated
Press that there can be no possible
| doubt of the sincere desire on the part
| of our hosts last week to cultivate
permanent and happy relations with
| America.
| During our stay in Japan we have
| been deeply impressed by the popular
| demonstrations in our honor and even
more forcibIy touched by the recep-
tions accorded us everywhere by the
| children of Japan. We felt that it
was the coming generation giving us
| welcome and we regard 1t as an earn
| est Indication of the good and kindly
feeling that will prevail among the
| generations to come. We say goodbye
with a feeling of regret and deep
sense of obligation"
Rear Almiral Sperry also issued a
farewell to the people through the YER
nacular press. wherein he expressed
sentiments somewhat similar In con-
clusion the statement says:
Already cable messages from home
show that the president and people of
foundly appreciate the generous hos
pitality you have bestowed upon the
fleet They express the same joyful
! confidence the ancient ties of friend
ship and good VIII VIII be drawn closer
during the years to come"
Seamen Are Complimented
Acting Consul General Babbitt, who
| effectively represented the government
of the United States at Yokohama dur
ing the fleets stay. communicated to
Rear Admiral Sperry, officially the
views of the mayor of Yokohama who
| said the behavior of the thousands of
| American seamen while here was most
| excellent and had filled the whole peo-
| pie of Japan with admiration of the
| gallant sailors of America.
| Another pleasing communication con-
veyed the request Of the governor of
! Shimoda, that the city of Shimoda be
| allowed to attend to the necessary
work and meet the expense of caring
1 for the graves of Surgeon General
! Hamilton and the enlisted men who
died during the visit of Commodore
| Perry to Japan. The United States
government recently ordered this to be
| done at the expense of America. The
governor of Shimoda says that the
people of his province desire by this
| means to express their cordial feeling
! for the American fleet. Rear Admiral
! Sperry accepted the offer and in his
| reply to the governor said that the
| people of America as well as the gov
| ernment would highly appreciate this
| generous act of the citizens of Shi-
| moda.
Previous scenes of enthusiasm in
Yokohama were repeated tonight The
weather is promising but somewhat
cloudy.