Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-02-25
LONG VOYAGE OF
FLEET is ENDED
Officers and Men Given Glorious
Welcome Home at Close of
Trip Around the World.
mot Until Some American Fleet Re-
turns Victorious from a Great Sea
Battle viii There Be Another
Such Home Coming"

Fortress Monroe. ya.-The Amer
ican battleship feet is home again,
having completed the last lap Of the
long journey around the world on
Monday, February %, the date held
in reverence by all true Americans,
and which will in future have an
added glory as being the date of the
contamination of one of the greatest
naval triumphs of the age.
The day OF the fleets home coming
was cold and gray, with drizzling
downpour of rain, but the elements
could not dampen the ardor of the
welcome extended by loyal Ameri-
cans to the officers and men of the
great fleet of fghtlrg machines that
had just returned to their native land
from a record-breaking voyage.
Exactly at noon, In unison with the
cannon showing their muzzles over
the crowded ramparts OF Fortress
Monroe, the fleet fired a salute OF
twenty-one guns each ship letting go
simultaneously.
The first glimpse of the ships by
the president and his guests on the
Mayflower and the thousands who
journeyed down to the Virginia
capes on the greatest fleet Of excur-
sion vessels ever seen in Hampton
Roads, was when the black crosses
formed by the signal yards at the
mastheads doomed above the horizon.
Only the leading ships In the long,
straight line were Visible when the
flash of the cannon from the flagship
started the salute to the presidents
flag flying at the mainmast of the
Mayfower.
The salute was caught up by every
other vessel in the far-fiung column
which seemed to disappear down the
near distance OF the close drawn hori-
Eon
In the wake of the sixteen return-
ing battleships were four other bat
tleahips OF the home station and Ave
giant cruisers. In the matter of bat
tleships 1t was the heaviest feet ever
gathered under the flag The escort.
ing ships were CARRIED In the new
gray prescribed for all the vessels of
the navy, and appeared at distance
to disadvantage alongside the white
and-bun vessels OF the world-girdling
sQuadrons
Cheer-laden breezes swept from the
shores out to the incoming vessels.
The OLD Point dock was black with a
restless crush of people as the long
column OF ships drew near Swerving
far out into the roadstead the Con
necticut led the ships to anchorage,
making long turn. pointing neI
prows again toward the capes to face
the incoming tide.
When night came. the fleet once
more at home, rested in two long
lines The hill In
illuminated during the evening, the
outline of their hulls. their masts and
their towering tunnels being panied
In the brilliant fire OF electric bulbs
against the black background OF the
night.
Ashore. the admirals and the cap
tains of the fleet, together with two
scores or more officers, were guests
at the annual banquet of the Navy
league of the United States.
The Presidents Toast
AS President Roosevelt stood. radt
antly happy. in the cabin OF the little
cruiser yacht Mayfower at the con-
clusion OF the review and the cere.
monies attending the welcome home
OF the American battleship fleet. he
gave the following toast;
Not until some American feet re-
turns victorious from great sea bat.
tie will there be another such home
coming, another such sight as this
drink to the American navy"
He was surrounded by the admirals
and captains OF the sixteen world-en-
circling vessels, brilliantly attired in
all the gold lace and paraphernalia
of special full uniform. and
every glass was raised in response to
the presidents suggestion
I'VE stay-at-homes also drink to
the men who have made us prouder
than ever OF our country" added the
president, and again the toast was
pledged
When the fleet sailed from San
Francisco, Mr.. President" replied
Rear-Admiral Charles s. Sperry. you
sent us a message, saving that ours
was heavy responsibility and n great
honor That we have today fulfilled
the responsibility makes this the
proudest moment of our lives / say
we advisedly. In speaking of the fleet.
for no one can do what has been
done without the loyalty and cooper
alton OF every man on the fleet"
Thus briefly the commander-fn-
CHIEF of the returning ships made his
official report to the COMMANDMENTS
chief of the army and navy.