New-York tribune., 1909-02-21

Fort Monroe. Va Feb. 20-When the saluting
guns on the forward bridge OF the armored
cruiser North Carolina doomed thirteen times
to-day in honor OF the blue flag Of Rear Ad-
miral Sperry on the battleshp Connecticut the
combination of naval forces that are to enter the
Virginia capes on Monday morning TO be re-
viewed by President Roosevelt in celebration OF
the world cruise was completed.
wireless signals received from the North
Carolina and her Junior consort. the Montana.
early to-day told of their approach u the main
body of tn, fleet. The wireless station at the
Norfolk Navy Yard could not pick up the fleet
direct either last night or to-day, on account
of static interference in the atmosphere, but
the messages from the North Carolina were
sufficient to indicate that the feet is near enough
to the Virginia capes tonight to insure its ar
rival off the entrance TO Hampton Roads some
time tomorrow
The fleet will lay to or manPuvre of the Capes
to-uorrow afternoon and evening and will get
under way on Monday morning in time to pass
into home waters and begin fling by the May
flower exactly at the hour indicated.
Hundreds OF messages from wives, sweet
hearts and relatives of those the various
ships clog the wireless station here Scores OF
officers wives are already at the hotels here.
Among them are about nineteen who made the
tourney all the way around the world in mer-
naval vessels at the various ports visited.
From washington. Baltimore Philadelphia.
New York. Richmond and Norfolk large parties
have arrived for fleet week" Every room in
the hotels is taken, and many persons were
turned away to-day at the Chamberlin. The
nroblenn of providing for those who Will be here
on Monday is worrying the hotel managers and
authorities Norfolk win be the mecca of most
of the excursonists. and elaborate preparations
are being made there to accommodate the
throngs with rooms and meals. As the time of
the fleets arrival draws near the excitement in
all the cities bordering Hampton Roads is
becoming intense
rbe man-of-war anchorage, stretching three
miles in a crescent from the Old Point pier,
was cleared to-day of all merchant ships, and
hereafter will be FORBIDDEN territory 10 any put
naval vessels.
Rear Admiral William II. Emery, who COM
uanded one OF the divisions of the fleet up to the
time of mis- retirement at Manila last November
arrived to-day TO witness the homecoming of
the feet and to provide for the transfer Of his
effects brought home his old flagship, the
Louisiana
According to advices received here the Geor-
gia is not the only one of the sixteen batteships
that is coming home in command of the execu-
tive officer Captain Hamilton Hutchins. who
sailed with the Kearsarge from Hampton Roads
all the way to Gibraltar. became i'll there and
asked for relief The Kearsarge is probably.
therefore. in command of Lieutenant Com
mander Nathan c. Twining. Captain Hutchins
returned from Gibraltar on the K0nigin Luise.
Washington, Feb. 20.-Carrying 100000 in
gold pieces fresh from the government mint to
nav the officers and men Of the fleet. the gun
boat Yankton, which completed it's cruise around
the world yesterday. left here to-day for Norfolk
IN reioin the fleet. The Yankton also took a
supplv of the new signal code for the fleet.
Two Of the regular Norfolk liners left tonight
with an aggregate of eighteen hundred passen-
gers. mostly intended spectators OF Mondays
The converted yacht Mayfiower. with Presi-.
dent Roosevelt and party aboard; the dispatch
hoat Dolphin, with members OF the twO naval
committees of Congress- and several steamers.
one of them chartered by eighty Congressman
and their friends. augmenting the heavy passen-
ger list of the regular Norfolk boat, Will leave
the CITY tomorrow for Hampton Roads.
NO MORE APPOINTMENTS BY PRESIDENT.
washington Feb. 90-Presdent Roosevelt an
nouneed to-day that he would not make any more
appointments during his term of Office He ex-
planned in talking with callers at the White House.
that he did not wish embarrass Mr. Taft BY
making appointments TO Offices created at this
session of Congress