Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-02-26
american SQUADRON
ARRIVES At CALLA0
ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME Is Ex.
TENDED FLEET As IT ENTERS
PERUVIAN POST.
AUTHORITIES PREPARE
TO ENTERTAIN GUESTS
Rear Admiral Evans Still In Poor
Health and Thomas in Charge Of
cruise-voyaqe from Punta Arenas
Successful and Uneventful.


Callao, Feb. 21.-The American bat
tle-ship fleet arrived at this port Thurs
day morning.
The welcome extended by the peo-
pie of Callao was enthusiastic. Vast
crowds had come down from Lima the
night before and the docks and head
lands were thronged. Both Callao
and Lima are in holiday attire, and the
only topic of conversation is the bril-
liant spectacle of the American ar.
mazda as the white warships swung
into port. An extensive program of
hospitable entertainment has been ar.
ranged by the Peruvian authorities
and people for the American visitors
during their stay of ten days.
A wireless dispatch from the Con.
necticut says that Rear Admiral Evans
is still in poor health and that Rear
Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas, com.
mander of the second squadron and
third division of the fleet, has assumed
charge of the vessels.
Voyage Is UneventfuI.
The warships had successful and
uneventful passage up from Punta
Arenas. They left Punta Arenas at II
o'clock at night, February Z, and in
column formation they made their way
through the western half of the Strait
of Magellan. The torpedo-boat fotilla
accompanied the warships. For the
first part of the passage through the
strait they kept close to the larger
vessels, but then dropped behind and
turned north to Smyth channel. A
minor accident to the engine of the de.
stroyer Lawrence made it necessary
for her to fall back, but she picked up
the fiOtilla later in the afternoon of
February 8. The destroyers entered
Smyth channel at about the same time
that the battleships got clear of the
strait and steamed out on the Pacific.
ChiIeans Welcome Fleet.
The Chilean cruiser Chacabuco,
with Admiral Simpson, of the Chilean
navy, John Hicks, the American min
lister to Chile, and Chilean delega-
ton of welcome on board, came out
of Punta Arenas with the American
vessels and accompanied them until
February II, when she put into Tai
cahuano to report. She returned and
Joined the fleet on the 18th, accom-
panied by three Chilean torpedo boats,
the Captain Thomson, the Captain
Munro Gambrera, and the Captain
OBrien. These four vessels escorted
the fleet to Valparaiso, which port
was made on the 14th There the
American warships were reviewed by
President Montt of Chile. The review
of Valparaiso, which was made in
response to an urgent request from
the Chilean officials, afforded much
satisfaction to the Chilean people as
we'll as to the officers and men of the
American fleet.
On the morning of February Is the
fleet was off Coquimbo, Chile, and
here the people also crowded the head
lands to witness the passing Of the
vessels and give expressions of their
welcome. The fleet fully appreciated
the interest shown by the Chilean peo-
pie at both the ports. From Coquim-
DO the vessels headed direct for Callao.
On the morning of February 10
wireless message was received an.
nouncing the presence of the Peruvian
cruiser Coronal Bolognesi and extend.
ing the welcome of the Peruvian
government and the people. The Cor.
onal Bolognesi escorted the feet into
Callao, having joined the American
vessels during the morning of the
10Th.
The Peruvian cruiser Almirante
Grau was in Callao harbor when the
American vessels entered and the usu.
al salutes were exchanged.