The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-04-16
SAN DIEGO GREETS
THE BATTLESH|PS
ARRIVAL or FLEET STARTS
ROUND OF FESTIVITIES.
WELCOMED BY GOVERNOR
Admiral Thomas and Other Officers
Are Given 5anquet--5eautIful
illumination in the
Evening.

San Diego, Cal, Apr. 15.-The
American baGtleship feet, in four reg.
ularly- interyaled columns, with nag.
ships leading abreast, swept into the
sheltered cove of the sea behind the
towering headlands of Point Iona
Tuesday and halted for four days OF
merry-making for men and officers.
Gov. James N. Gillett was here to wei
come the feet. Local committees also
went to the Connecticut TO tell Ad-
miral Thomas and through him all
the men of the fleet, how glad the
people of California are to see such
splendid representation of the Ameri'
can navy as the battle feet" consu'
tutes.
At night Admirals Thomas, Sperry
and Emery and the commanding otti,
GERS and members of the various
stats were entertained at an elaborate
but informal dinner at the Hotel Del
Coronado
illumination Is Beautiful.
The beauty of the days spectacle,
when with flashing and wonderfully
executed maneuYers the ships were
brought to anchor in the lazy rolling
Pacific waters, was rivalled at night
when for three hours every vessel was
outlined in fire. Thousands of mean
descent bulbs were strung along deck
lines, up masts, far out on the signal
yardarms, up and down the huge fun
nels and down to the waters edge at
stem and stern. In fairy-like form
the ships stood out against the night
and in letters six feet high the name
of each vessel was spelled across its
forward bridge.
During half an hour of the period
of Illumination a search light display
was made, adding to the wonderful eff
feet. On shore scores of red signal
fires we're maintained throughout the
evening as welcome sign.
Arrival at Anchorage.
The feet let go its anchors at 12:47,
just 13 minutes before the anchoring
hour arrived For two hours the ships
had been in sight and their coming
had been watched with wonder by the
waiting thtongs. So engrossed were
they in the beauty of the scene that
.shanMns Hgot to cheer.
d Is soon-as. the Connecticut let go
her anchors Col Thomas Wilhelm, o..
s. A., retired. on the stan of Gov. GIL
lett as assistant inspector general, put
out from the shore and was received
on board the flagship. He presented
the compliments of the governor to
Admiral Thomas and said the chief
executive of California wished to call
and pay his respects and formally ex
tend welcome to California waters.
Admiral Thomas replied that he would
be glad to receive Gov. Gillett and his
stan at 2:30 p. m. At that hour the
governor accompanied by the uni.
formed members of his STAFF, repaired
aboard the flagship.
At the conclusion of the governors
address of welcome Admiral Thomas
called for three cheers for the gov.
ernor and the people of California.
They were given with a will, the ad.
miral himself leading.
AS the governor was piped over the
sides of the Connecticut in beginning
his return trip to the shore, salute
of II guns was fired in his honor
from the 3-pounders on the after
bridge.
Welcomed by the City.
Mayor John F. Forward OF the city
of San Diego, William Clayton, di.
rector general of the feet celebration
committee, and u. S. Grant, chairman
Of the reception committee. also went
aboard the Connecticut during the
afternoon and received a cordial wei.
come from Admiral Thomas
Attended by the members OF his
personal staff. Admiral Thomas re-
turned Gov. Gilletts visit at the Hotel
Del Coronado In the evening. The
dinner TO the flag and commanding Of
ficers was a private subscription af
fair and the addresses were Informal.
Gov. Glllett was among the guests.
San Diego was brilliantly illumin.
ated. the elaborate scheme of decora.
ton which has been carried out in.
Guiding a night display of exceptional
beauty.