The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-10-20
The FLEET At
YOKOHAMA
Japan Extends a Cordial Wei
come to Our BattleShipS.
OFFICERS EXCHANGE VISITS

The American Vessels. Battered sy
Tremendous Storm. Greeted BY
Booming Guns and Cheers As They
Entered the Harbor-8eautiful lllu.
limitations at Nieht-Dinners Given
In Honor Of Our oTioers, and AT
Are Treated With the Creates,
Courtesy.
Yokohama. oct. ls.-Storm-battcrei
but magnificent. the American batdc
ship deet lies in the harbor. the entire
asscmSlage making a display unprecc.
donted in tke history OF Yokohama
Shortly after the ships came 90 an
Choir. the mist which had shut out
their coming. cleared and a light
breeze carried away the smoke from
the saluting guns. revealing from the
shore front the lines OF white Amer.
can ships OF war. backed by the grey
OF the Japanese. Scores of small craft
chartered by individuals and assoc.a
tons darted in and cut among the
battleships. the American Asiatic as
ISOLATION being among those 20 give
the heartiest welcome. Two thousand
school children sang the American ma
uonal anthem, the sound Of the sing
ing reaching far over the waters
The ships show the effect Of the
tremendous battering by the waves
which is described by old officers a.
the worst they have ever encountered
The kearsarge. which got separated
from the fleet. IS still undergoing re-
pairs Rear Admiral Sperry said I'M
mediateiy after anchoring that he was
glad TO arrive in Japan. AID that h.
greatly appreciated the evidences OF q
sincere welcome. the Arrangements
for which appeared To be perfect. Com
mander John A. Dougherty. the Ameri-
can naval attache at Toxic. who came
here 10 take part in the welcome T.
the feet boarded the Connecticut an
discussed the program with Admiral
Sperry
Shortly afterward the commander
in-chief and the other admirals. ac.
oompanied by their STATS. entered O
motorboat and proceeded 20 the aa-.
ship Mikasa. OF the japanese fleet. Co
pay an official call upon Vice Admiral
Sir Coro Ijuin. The japanese al.
mirals Immediately returned the call
Vice Admiral Ijuin was given a hearts
welcome by Admiral Spc-ry on boar
the Connecticut After a brief visit
the Japanese departed. and as they
went down the side the japanese ha-
was broken out at the mainmast az
the guns belched forth a salute.
Everywhere about the streets "a
American officers and men are treatea
with the greatest courtesy. being sa-
luted always by the police and Japa-
nese soldiers. Crowds continued O.
swarm the streets about the water
front all day. and az nightfau maa-
nihcent Examinations liz up the entire
city. Electric lights and lantern
were swinging everywhere, and az "a
prominent point huge design. in
which the word Welcome" was spell
ed with brilliant lights. was surround
ed by hundreds OF American and Jana
nese flags. The lantern parade BE-
which there were many flower float
made an inspiring spectacle. as thou
sands upon thousands Of the little
japanese In quaint costumes az
bright colors took part.
Several dinners were given in honor
OF the American officers. at one of
which the mayor was the host and
Admiral Sperry the chief guest o.
honor During the course OF his speech
at the dinner. Admiral Sperry said
that the object Of the cruise was tho
development OF the feet for peaceful
purposes. He believed that NOTHING
was ever likely 10 occur 10 break tho
traditional friendship of America and
Japan.