Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-25
BANOUETFORN NAVAL OFFICERS
Richmond Entertains Admiral Sperry
and others.
VOYAGE WAS NOT A JUNKET
score of Last Years Target Practice
Doubled and Twenty-Five Per
Cent f. saved in Coal
Consumption.

RICHMOND, Va. Feb. 2A-The south
land today paid homage to the globe
girdling fleet in the old capital OF the
confederacy.
I'VE welcome you to the hearts OF a
people who yield to no one devotion to the
American navy nor in loyalty to our
flag was the sentiment expressed at a
luncheon in the jefferson hotel this after
noon by Mayor Richardson in welcoming
ReaK Admiral sperry. Rear Admiral VAIN
wright and fifty-four officers.
The luncheon. at which men of all walks
Of civil life, Of all ages and OF unyielding
loyalty to the cause Of jefferson fratern-
lied In good fellowship with the fighting
men Of the navy was given by the Rich
mond Chamber of Commerce. Admiral
sperry received an ovation. He referred
to ''this first separate welcome since We
have returned to our shores" said he had
not read his official mail since arriving on
the American side, and smilingly added:
"I don't know where the secretary of the
navy is and what is more, 1 don't care
Voyage Not q Junket.
The admiral pointed out the voyage
around the world was no junket. while
we have been encircllng the globe" he said,
WI nave uOuDltu ne ctOl0 VI sNoa .
target practice. The fleets efficiency has
increased Is per cent by economy OF coal
consumption, due to hard and faithful
work of the men below decks. When a
contest comes a navy must know how to
get there, and how to stay there, when it
gets there.
Now that the world is governed by the
people and for the people It is not suf-
ficient that a solitary arbitrary ruler
should know on paper the possibilities of
a contest and the questions at issue. Under
the constitutional forms which rule the
world today even in Russia, public senti-
ment may force a ruler into a war or keep
him out OF II. And since the people gen.
orally is only impressed by what it sees,
It is necessary, IL you desire the peace Of
the world. that you show your fleet"
Rear Admira Wainwright in his address
bowed to the gallery and remarked:
1--WE can all shoot stralghter and fight
better when we are remembered by the
girls at home"
storm al Fort Monroe.
FORT MONROE, Va, Feb. 23.-The bad
weather which greeted the battleship fleet
at the Virginia capes yesterday, the worst
the sixteen ships rave experienced in any
port visited on their way around the world,
continued today. Storm signals were
hoisted on the beach and during the after
nom a stiff southeastern set in. driving a
singing rain before II.
The ships safely at anchor paid little
heed to the blow, but the little white and
gray launches running between ship and
shore were buffeted by wind and waves.
That part OF the roadstead running west
from the Old Point pier seemed fairly
choked with fighting craft today. The two
long lines OF the combined squadrons of
Admirals Sperry and Arnold stretched
away from the dock almost as far as the
eye could reach. the gray ships Of the stay
at-home fleet fading away in the mist,
which overspread the harbor.
Nearly one-half of the ships began coal
ing today in spite of the weather. AL Of
the vessels came in with bunkers nearly
empty after the long and stormy run from
Gibraltar. 1t lie hoped that the last Of the
ships will have been coaIed by Saturday
in order that the men may parade in Nor
folk on that day. A committee from Nor
folk visited the flagship Connecticut today
to extend an invitation to the men of the
fleet TO be the city's guests on Saturday,
but Admiral sperry, In company with about
fifty other officers, had gone to Richmond
to attend a banquet luncheon there and did
not return until late this afternoon. There
Is little doubt that the Norfolk invitation
will be accepted, however, and hat several
thousand men will be sent there to parade
and be entertained by the people. This will
be the first shore leave the men will have.
They are being kept aboard ship now In an
ticipation OF an inspection of each ship by
Admiral Sperry and an inspection board
from among the officers OF the fleet.
Enlisted Men Leave.
One of the most interesting sights today
was the departure Of a large number of en-
listed men whose terms of service had ex-
pired. AS they left the side of the vessel
on which they had served, the departing
men were given lusty cheers by the sailors.
Still attired in their sailor toys the men
reached the government dory loaded with
all manner OF luggage. The bluejackets
brought home all manner of souvenirs from
every country visited.
A number OF the sailors who left today
we're long enlistment men who will I'M
doubleday come back into the service before
three months have elapsed. IL they re-en-
list within ninety they will be rated as hav-