Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-13
RATTLEsHlP FLEET sTEAMiNo
RAPIDLY TOWARD SAN DIEGO
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SAN DIEGO, April 1.-THE Atlantic
fleet is reported tonight by wireless as
we'll along on its way to San Diego,
and will be in position to anchor pre-
cisely at i o'clock on next Tuesday al
ternoon.
The ships will lie In division forma-
ton. or four lines of four vessels each,
off Coronado beach. Thousands OF
persons made the trip to Coronado to-
day to view the anchorage ground.
Other throngs gathered along tne
wharves to get a near view of the little
tender Yankton and the repair ship
Panther, which made the notable trip
with the fleet through Magellan straits
and are now anchored in the harbor.
The last details of the welcoming
ceremonies in this, the first home port
to be touched by the fleet, have been
completed. The ships will remain here
four days before resuming their jour-
ney up the coast. -
noon the flagship Con Seticut will be
visited by Mayor Forv 2 of San Diego
and by Chairman WI o ~ Clayton of
the locap' flee cele,s' So committee.
They will extend &c = Sear Admiral
Thomas a formal seting and will
submit to him Tor approval the de-
tailed program of the four days stay.
Sianal Fires to Welcome
Tuesday evening red signal fires
along the beach will burn welcome to
the ships and in return the men-of-war
will be Illuminated by thousands OF
incandescent bulbs from until il
%. m. A searchlight drill will add to
the evening spectacle. A banquet to
the flagship and commanding officers
at the Hotel Del Coronado Tuesday
night will round out the first days
events.
On wednesday, April Is, the full fleet
brigade of nearly 5000 men will be
landed from the ships at noon and at
p. m. will begin parade through the
principal. streets to the city park,
where the formal exercises of welcome
will be held. Here Governor Gillett
of California and Mayor John f. For
ward of San Diego will voice the greet
ings of commonwealth and munich
pality.
Admiral Thomas will be asked to ac,
cept in behalf of himself and the Off
GERS and men of the fleet the freedom
of the city. He will also be presented
with a silver-mounted cut grass buffet
service. as token OF the appreciation
of the residents of this city. Admiral
Thomas will accept in trust for Ad-
mral Evans a golden key to the city
given by the G. A. r. It Is expected
the admiral will make few remarks
Plans for Entertainment
The city and the fleet will be illu-
minated Wednesday night and there
will also be on this night ball at the
Hotel Del Coronado in honor of Ad-
miral Thomas and the other officers
of the fleet Admirals Sperry and
Emory will be presented with gold
medals in commemoration of their
visit.
On Thursday, April 16. there will be
a picnic in the country for fifty Off
GERS and boat races for the men.
Thursday night there will be an elab-
crate display of fireworks from barge
anchored in the bay
Friday forenoon and afternoon the
enlisted men will be given the free
dom of the city and all sorts of enter
tainments have been planned for them.
Practically all of the theaters will open
their doors to the men in uniform.
There will be baseball games, wild
west show and innumerable features.
Friday night a ball to the junior Off
GERS at Hotel Del Coronado will mark
the close of the fleets visit, the ships
getting under way at a. m. on Sat-
urday, for San Pedro and the other
ports of Los Angeles.