Arizona republican., 1908-04-16

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 the blue jackets and marine landed from the American battleship fleet. 5000 fighting men fresh from the cruise of more than 13,000 miles. marked the first day of the, ceremOn- ies of official welcome by the state of California. SiXty-four companies
 of sailor men in the tOgs of the sea
 with wide flaring trousers reefed down
 by canvas leggings, and sixteen com
 panies of marines formed the most notable of the Eavy's land displays. The landing party was equipped as in fantry, armed with Krags fin light marching order with their canteens filled. and they equalled an army corps. The procession of the men of
 the navy was more than two miles long. They marched from the water front to the city park, over three miles of streets canopied with decorations which combined the red. white and blue Of the nation and the gold and white of the state.
 San Diego took a holiday to see the martial pageant and the sidewalks paralleling the asphalted roadways were crowded with the holiday throng
 The appearance of the blue jackets and marines called forth long sustain ed cheering. At the city park the sail ors passed in review before Rear Ad- mirals Thomas, Sperry and Emory and Governor Gillett and staff. A crowd of many thousands surrounded the grand stands. Three thousand school children. waving flags and banners. were massed directly in front of the reviewing stand. Their songs and cheers were one of the prettiest fea-
 lures of the days celebration
 Governor Gillett in brief speech supplemented the words of welcome spoken yesterday on the quarter deck ,of the Connecticut. Admiral Thomas made formal response in behalf Of
 the fleet. He regretted the absence of the commander in -chief of the fleet and then graciously accepted in his behalf the golden key. symbolica1 of the freedom of the city The token will be forwarded by Admiral Thomas to Admiral Evans at Paso Robles Hot Springs. There will go with it a gold mounted jeWelled naval sword pre- sented today to Admiral Evans through Admiral Thomas by the patri- otic fraternities of this city, including the G. A. R. the Confederate Veterans and the Spanish War Veterans To Admirals Thomas. Sperry and Emory gold medals commemorative of the visit-were presented. There was also a medal for Captain Ingerson. who served as chief of staff to Evans from Hampton Roads to Magdalena Bay. This medal will be sent to Ingersoll at Norfolk
 Tonight ball was rendered the of ficers of the fleet at Hotel del Coro- nado. The immense circular ball room was decorated in elaborate fashion with flags and bunting The younger officers of the ships came ashore in great numbers in little steam launches dancing over the ocean along Coronado pier. The long march in the afternoon and two trips from the ships to shore in the morning and back again late in the afternoon were not too fatigu- ing to interfere with the dance tonight
 Tonight the ships are illuminated in full radiance with electric dressings. The city is crowded with sightseers. The sailors and marines parade to- day was escorted by d number of civic and veteran organizations of San Diego. by a battalion of coast artil- lery from the army post at Fort Rose crans and by attachments of the Cal ifornia national guard and naval re- serves.
 At the head of the column the flag and commanding officers of the fleet, other than those designated to march with the men, rode in automobiles gaily dressed with flags and flowers. Governor Gillett was in the first ma chine, accompanied by T.. s. Grant jr, and the chairman of the local recep- tton committee, John b. Spreckels.