The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
GREAT SQUADRON or AMERICAN
wARsHlPs ENDS CRUISE.
NAVAL REVIEW FRIDAY
Largest Aggregation Of Warships Ever
Under One Command, in Admiral
Evans Fleet, Which Has Completed
Cruise From Atlantic to Pacific.

towering rocky portals Of the Golden
Gate. heavy laden with the romance
OF centuries, into the harbor Of the
city with a hundred hills-into a new
San Francisco risen from the ruins OF
two years ago-the Atlantic battle.
ship feet steamed today in review Of
a multitude unnumbered.
It was the same pageant OF immacu-
late white ships that sailed from
Hampton Roads nearly five months
ago in the wake OF the presidents flag,
but with the splendid accomplish
ments OF a record breaking cruise Of
more than $4,000 miles and three
weeks Of wonderful target work be-
hind it.
Today the white-anchored, four
starred blue flag Of the secretary Of
the navy, flying from the mainmast Of
the trim little gunboat Yorktown,
futtered the welcome Of the nation.
while the governor Of California, the
mayor Of San Francisco and other Of
icers reviewed its arrival. There was
today a satisfied sense of prepared
ness for the welcome among the mill
lion residents of the western country
who gazed for the first time on a col
umn OF first class battleships. ~
Pacific Fleet There.
Once inside the entrance to the
bay, the heavy vessels Of the eastern
coast were Joined by the armored
cruisers of the entire Pacific fleet and
the navy Of the nation-all save a few
newly commissioned or reserved ships
on the Atlantic coast and some patrol
boats scattered in the Orient-and all
Joined in a parade which for impress
sive beauty ard strength If fighting
timber has never been equalled.
Forty-four vessels, ranging from
the 10000 ton Connecticut and the
five sister ships of her class down to
the tiny torpedo boats no larger than
a racing launch, passed through the
harbor to the anchorage grounds
south OF the Market street ferry ter
minals, where tonight, outlined in the
fire Of their electric illumination, they
lie in four long lines awaiting the re-
view Of Secretary Metcalf On Friday
morning.
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The parade and the maneuvers Of
anchorage occupied full four hours Of
time, ard gave to the people who made
black the hills Of the city, the islands
Of the tarbor, housetops and mountain
heights 20 miles away,;th the most won
derful spectacle they have ever seen.
For, after all, whatever may be the
elaborate festivities planned ashore In
welcome Of the fleet, the ships them
selves, steaming along in varying
formations, really present the picture
that Is most beautiful to see. No
~black-hulled navies Of other nations
can ever match the wondro1s impress
sion the white ships Of tho Atlantic
: fleet have created ct home and abroad.
Holiday In TWO Cities.
San Francisco, Oakland and other
cities nearly all took . holiday to Wit
ness the coming Of the feet. There
was a complete cessation OF business
and the streets in the downtown sec
ton were absolutely deserted. Banks
and business houses were closed for
the day and everybody locked to the
hillsides overlooking the gateway and
the harbor. More people came into
the city last night and this morning
than left during the terrible and home
less days following the fire.
It is probably difficult for the people
Of the central and eastern states to
realize the enthusiasm Of the resi-
dents Of this coast over the presence
Of the b%attleships in Pacific waters.
All other subjects are lost to view.
"A few remaining seas Of q city
shaken and burned appeared rose
tinted today in the JOY Of q general
celebration. A welcome sign spelled
in letters 20 feet high topped the
heights Of Telegraph hill. The sun,
which all morning long had been OBJ
secured by heavy gray clouds. broke
through Just as the ships were pass.