The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-26

VI the Whistles OF scores of naval yes
nSls and hundred or more other
Ships, this only to be drowned out
BY the thunderous saluting of twenty
one guns from each of the sixteen bat
ueships in the column, Americas rec
Ord-breaking feet sailed majestically
into Hampton Roads.
1t was the fleets homecoming af-
ter its circumnayigation of the globe
the most remarkable continuous voy-
age ever made by the warships of any
navy
President Roosevelt and Secretary
of the Navy Newberry, who were the
last 10 bid the feet God-speed, when
1t left Hampton Roads, December 16,
1907, were the first to greet it upon
its return TIE president and his par
ty of naval officers and ladies aboard
the Mayfower, formally reviewed
them while they passed the May
flower in single column. When the
feet had dropped anchor in the Roads
just above historic old Fort Monroe,
the Mayfiower steamed in among them
and Admiral Sperry, the commander
in-ohief4and his flag officers and ship,
captains were received on board by
the president All, especially the COM
mander-in-chief, were warmly congrat-
ulated upon the same completion of
their unprecedented cruise.
Following the presidents reception
of the officers, the Mayfower started
back to Washington, and the officers
and men, as many as could be spared
at one time, rushed ashore, most Of
them to Old Point to greet the mem
bers of their families and friends who
had come from various parts Of the
country to welcome them home. The
other officers will be given this tenn
pOrary shore leave in relays of about
one-fourth of the number of each ship
at one time, until all have had the
round. After that, they will be grant
ed such liberty as they can be spared
for until the ships proceed to their
home yards for docking and repairs.
AS the battleships came in, looking
their f1ttest and apparently none the
worse for the wear Of the long voyage
of 42,227 miles, equal to almost twice
the distance around the equator, the
naval authorities drew a breath of
relief Not that there had been any
apprehension at any time Of any Sc
rious difficulties, either in the mat
ter of navigation or possible military
work to do, but because the hand
ling of sixteen of the most. modern
and formidable sea-dghting engines of
the world, the supplying them with
coal, oil and food at the different
ports where stops were made, and pro-
viding the ships with the pick of the
officers and men of the navy while on
foreign view, required careful and al
most constant attention, from the
time the cruise was first projected,
in July, 1907, until the command left
Gibraltar little over two weeks ago.
The successful completion of the
cruise without noteworthy accident or
untoward incident, from either a naval
or political point Of view, is regarded
bv all nations as history New
er before has any battle command
made such long and practically con-
tinuous voyage. Never before has
any feet circumnayigated the globe,
whether in one or separate voyages.
Never before has any armada of any
of the countries of the world, visited
so many ports, at such great distances
in some many countries and under SO
many flags. And never was any ma
val command received with such uni
versal manifestations Of friendly fell
ing as marked the progress Of the
American feet at every one of its two
score stops on the cruise around the
world
Starting out from Hampton Roads
fourteen months ago in the pink OF
condition-or, in their spotless white
and buff. more properly speaking
sixteen great dogs of war stood ready
al every moment of the twenty-four
hours of every day for prompt and
effective action.
awe were ready for a fight or frol-
icp said Admiral C''Fighting Bob")
T,vans when he surrendered the COM
nand IF his feet to the rear admiral
newt in rank. "and God be thanked
thot we had none Of the fighting to
dor Although there was no fighting,
atilI II was not continuous froiic, Tor
there was much work to do constantly
m tbe way of accomplishing the stated
urinary object of the cruise-to in
crease the general cruising and team
efIciency of the ships as unite and
A one solid command.
Truth is no fight was expected, SO
there has been no disappointment on
fAis score. The work was expected
sn there has been no cry OF unoue
hardship. But there were seVeral very
LfInnortant things accomplished by the
aoet nm its cruise which were not
antIcinated Whether there was a
.,,oI3ticaI mission to be fulfilled, either
a the Far EAST, Europe or elsewhere,
zoos not concern the navy - tnat
Games under the head Of foreign re-
.s.aions', or international diplomacy.