The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-02-21
THE BIG FLEET SAILS
PAST VALPARAISO
Chilians Enthyss Over Splendid
Spectacle.
PRESIDENT MONII REVIEWS FLEET.
The Sixteen American BattIcships in
Single File, Headed by the CHILEAN
Cruiser Chacabuco and ChiIian Tor
pedo-boat Destroyers, Steam Slowly
Through Valparaiso Bay.

Valparaiso, Chill (By CabIe) -.
The great American fleet of 16 bat
tleships under the command of Rear
Admiral Evans passed Valparaiso
and continued on its voyage north
ward for Callao, Peru, the next stop
ping place. All Valparaiso and
and thousands of persons from every
city in Chilli witnessed the passing
of the feet. President Mont and
the other high officials of the repub-
lie came out from shore to greet the
battleships, and almost the entire
Gillian Navy exchanged salutes with
them as they swung around Curau-
milla Point and into Valparaiso Bay
in single file, headed by the Chilian
cruiser Chacabuco and five Chilian
torpedo-boat destroyers.
Turning sharp around Curaumilla
Point at 40 o'clock P. M, the
Chacabuco and the five Gillian de-
stroyers led the Connecticut and her
Is sister ships into the view of the
thousands who had awaited their
appearance since dawn The day
was perfect and the spectacle of the
fleet stretched in great semicircle
as seen from the high hills around
the bay was magnificent
President Montt and other CHILEAN
officials embarked on the training
ship General Baquedano and took
a position well out in the harbor
Around the Bequedano the fleet
swung at a speed of four knots, FIR
ing the presidential salute as they
passed in review. 1t was one hour
from the time the head of the fleet
entered the bay until the last ves-
sci 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 its way to the North
1t was a great review, such as had
never before been seen in Valpa-
raiso Bay, and the sight will long
be remembered by the people of
Chill who came to witness it.
The shipping the. harbor and the
principal buildings In the city were
dressed for the occasion, as the day
was observed as holiday in honor
of the fleet. From the picturesque,
sloping hills, dotted with houses, a
profusion of bunting and the wav-
ing of flags was diseernible from the
bay. Thousands of persons from
Santiago and other places in the re-
public had come to Valparaiso for
the occasion, and the roofs of the
Bolsa Commercial, with it's two huge
towers, the cumtom house and the
large warehouses and other build
ings along the circular road skirting
the bay front were black with spec
tators.
The enthusiasm of the Chilians
was almost boundless, and they
cheered Justify as each battleship of
the feet swept around the review
ing ship, their sides lined with
jackies in immaculate white, and the
bands playing patriotic airs. The
noise of the cheering was lost, how
ever, in that of the saluting guns
from the fort and the fleet Alto
gether, 1900 shots were fred.
After the fleet had passed to the
northwest banquet was served on
board the General Baquesdano by
President Montt in honor of the
corps and his other
guests. Toasts were drunk to Pres
ident Roosevelt and Admiral Evans
and his officers, crews and ships, and
the universal wish was expressed
that the Americans may have fair
weather and safe passage to their
destination.