New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
FLEET At SIN Pedro.
Orer 10000 Residents of Los
4ngeles Greet BattIeships.

Los Angeles, April 1S.-Los Angeles sent more
than one hundred thousand of its residents to
the oceanside to-day to welcome the American n
batteship fleet. which steamed into San Pedro
Harbor, Twenty-Five miles away. and dropped
anchor at 3 80 p IN. The sixteen fighting YES
sels and three auxiliaries leaving San Diego
shortly after O'Clock this morning had steamed
up the hundred miles OF surf beaten coast in
single column formation, four hundred yards
apart and in full view of the thousands of per-
sons who gathered at every vantage point
With the Connecticut leading and with Rea r
Admiral Charles NJ Thomas on the bridge the
long line of ships pointed within the breakwater
at San Pedro Bay just half an hour behind their
scheduled time Of arrival The Connecticut the
Kansas. the Vermont and the Louisiana took
UP berths within the sheltered portion Of the
harbor, where they are to remain the full seven
days Of the fleets visit while the other twelve
ships of the second. third and fourth divisions
reached out into the open water in a line nearly
two miles long
The arrival Of the feet was accompanied bv
all the flashing colors and embellishments that
have made its presence in every home and
foreign port visited in the last four months a
marine picture of imposing beauty. The thou
SANDS OF people who made the occasion of the
arrival holiday and who lined seawalls
breakwaters and beaches surrounding the bav
mace their enthusiasm manifest the fleet
steamed into its assigned position. They had
watched the ships grow from a miniature
squadron. smoke enshrouded in the distance
with increasing excitement and when the
anchors dropped with splash. whistles blew
In pandemonium Of greeting, while cheers
grew In volume until they could be heard on
board the Minnesota, the last OF the big fight
ers in the far reaching column.
Tonight the feet was Illuminated hulls. gu
perstructures. turrets and yardarrns being out
lined in electric bulbs Major A c. Harper ac-
companied by General A r. Chafee and other
members Of the Los Angeles reception commit
tee went by special steamer several miles down
the coast to greet the incoming fleet but did not
board the flagship Connecticut until the anchor
ing signal of multi-colored flags had dropped
from the signal yards Admiral Thomas re-
cetved the visitors in his cabin and thanked
them for the cordial greetings extended The
stay Of the feet at the port of Los Angeles dur
ing the next week is TO be marked by the most
elaborate programme of entertainment, both for
the enlisted men and officers the city has ever
known.
Tomorrow morning the fleet is to be split up
in squadrons i'll order that four ports may share
in the honor of entertaining the greatest naval
force the waters Of the Coast ever saw.
In reply to a telegram from The Express" TO-
day Admiral Evans sent the following message:
beg 10 say that il is the great regret of my
life that cannot be with the officers and men
Of the splendid Atlantic feet 10 enjoy the hos
pitality of the people of Los Angeles so plenti-
fully bestowed
Be good to these officers. because they are all
wool and a yard wide, and prepare to prove
that California is much part of the United
States as New York or New England You will
need them some day, and l predict that they will
be ready at the drop Of the hat either for a fight
a frOlic
God bless them all. I thank the people Of
Los Angeles for all their courtesies and good
wishes Evans