The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-02

Manila bay. of which yesterday was
the anniversary, was assigned for duty
as a guard of honor. The McCunoch
met the squadron outside the heads,
and in a graceful and ladylike manner
escorted the visitors to their anchor
age The McCulloch, not being navy
ship was painted white and presented
a contrast with the somber hued ships
Of Japan and the equally war colored
American cruisers that was positive
relief
The United States army on this occa-
sion was wide awake TO the demands
of hospitality, and when the Aso's bat
terry had fired national salute OF u
guns there was an immediate reply
from the saluting station at the Presi-
do The japanese salute was the first
break in the silence. and this firing
was done off the Preside il was hardly
heard in the upper bay. where the ad-
nirals later exchanged gunpowder
greetings
AS the squadron came in through
the heads the excursion fleet. gay with
bunting. which consisted largely of
American and japanese flags. swung
into line at a discreet distance abeam
of the squadron On the river steamer
Sehome which had been chartered by
the local japanese societies, was .
band, and the visiting sea fighters
were greeted with their own national
anthem. The band on the Aso replied
with the star Spangled Banner" and
from then. until the cruisers anchored
and for an hour or two after, all the
bands on excursion steamers and war
ships, American and Japanese, were
busy.
SALUTE IRISH EMBLEM
When Captain Michael Joseph Conboy
circIed around the Aso with a green
flag Dating from the police launch
Patrols signal staff, the Aso's band
master returned the police captains sa-
lutte with a wave of his baton. and
the flagship band played The Wearing
of the Green" with almost Hibernian
spirit.
Although the sky was cloudless. a
peculiar haze hung over the bay that
dimmed the outlines of the Japanese
ships as they glided past the wharves
to their anchorage in man of war row.
The music of the bands reached the
ear family and lent to the scene a
weird charm that was not broken until
the squadron came abreast of the West
Virginia and the Aso's guns barked 10
times in honor of Admiral Swinburne's
flag The West Virginia replied. The
visiting ships let go their anchors and
prepared to receive boarders.
They came from all directions. and
while the canvas canopied steamers
from the American cruisers deposited
gold laced visitors on the Aso's star
board gangway the excursion fleet
circIed- around the two war vessels.
The excursion bands still played but
the musicians on the -Aso were now too
busy to reply Each batch of visitors
was received with appropriate music
as they marched from the gangway
along the quarterback to the compan-
ionway leading to the admirals cabin.
ASO's CREW KEPT BUSY
BY and by the excursion feet mus
tered up courage TO run alongside the
Aso's port gangway and the air should
have been filled with "banzais,' but it
was not. The crews or the warships
were too busy cleaning ship in prepare
to have time for more than a smile for
their civilian countrymen.
The revenue cutter Golden Gate,
bearing Collector of the Port Stratton.
Lieutenant Governor Porter, the Japan
csc consul general and his staff and a
number Of prominent local japanese.
did not leave Washington street wharf
until after the fleet had anchored. Col
lector Stratton detailed Bording officer
McBride to wait on Admiral Ijichi and
ascertain when the admiral would re-
ceive the company on the Golden Gate.
Mcbride went alongside in the revenue
cutter Hartley and soon returned with
word that the welcome sign was hang
ing over the starboard gangway. The
Golden Gates passengers We're trans
ferred to the Hartley, the Golden Gate
being too large to go alongside. and
TO the strains of The Star Spangled
Banner" from. the Asos band the party
boarded the flagship.
Visitors win be received on board the
visiting ships every day during their
stay in port and excursion launches
will be run from Folsom, Howard and
Mission street boat landings.