The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-01
ANCHOR NEAR
FAMOUS ROCK
oiN AMERICAN BATTLEsHIPt
BEACH GIBRALTAR IN CRUISE
AROUND THE GLOBE.
BANDS PLAYED; FLAGS DlPPEE
An Elaborate Series Of Entertainment
In Honor Of American Sailors
Is Planned by the Eng.
llsh Authorities.

Gibraltar. Feb 1.-The first division
of the United States Atlantic feet
composed of the Connecticut, Yer
mont, Kansas and Minnesota, undei
command of Rear Admiral Sperry, ar
rived here yesterday morning from
Villefranche. Although the arrival oi
the squadron lacked the noisy accom-
paniment of laundering guns. the for
NAL exchange of salutes being post
poned until to-day in Difference to the
day, the British welcome was no less
hearty and, cordial
From the moment the glistening
white hulls of the American ships
were specks upon the blue water Of
the Mediterranean, every coign OF
vantage on the rock of Gibraltar was
occupied and by the time they were
ready to round majestically into the
harbor the entire population seemed
20 be massed on the water front.
The two British battleships Albe.
marie aud Albion and the four ships
Of the second cruiser squadron just re.
turned from South American waters
the Russian battleships. Tsarsevitch
and Slava and the protected cruisers
Bogatyr and oleg, the French gun.
boat Cassini and the Dutch gunboat
Heimdal lying inside the breakwater
with sides manned, flags dipping and
bands playing greeted the Americans
as each In turn entered and was
berthed The American battleships
responded with flags and music, the
band on board the Connecticut playing
the national anthem of each country
represented. AS they passed the jack
les aboard the Russian warships un.
covered and stood with barred heads
while the American bands rendered
God Save the Gar"
The official calls began as soon as
the visiting ships were moored Vice
Admiral Goodrich, the admiral super.
intendent and commander of all the
naval establishments at Gibraltar al.
though Rear Admiral Sperry's senior
in rank, did not wait for the latters
visit, but Immediately boarded the
Connecticut to extend his greetings,
at the same time insisting that the
ships Of the divisions due here to-day,
as far as possible, anchor in the basin
instead Of ON the Algeciras side us
previously arranged. The senior OF.
f1cers Of the foreign warships followed
suit and later in the day Rear.Admiral
Sperry returned the calls, going first
70 Admiralty house to repay Vice Ad-
miral Goodrich's courtesy.
All day long launches and shore
boats Allied with the curious churned
around the American battleships. the
sightseers marvelling at their size and
comparing them with the other war
ships in the harbor At sundown the
Georgia and Nebraska, under COM
mand Of Rear Admiral Wainwright ar
rived from Tangier. Five colliers and
the auxiliaries Panther and Yankton
already are here and the coaling of the
first division will begin to-day.
The English evidently intend to give
the Americans a reception they will
long remember. Besides entertain
ments for the men TO be arranged by
the various crews, such as athletic,
boxing and rowing matches, and din
ners and parties ashore and afioat for
the officers, the functions will include
dinner at the Admiralty house Wed.
nesday next, a race meeting and a din
ner to be given by the military gov.
ernor, Gen. Walker, which
will be followed by ball at the assem-.
bly, rooms arranged by Richard L.
Bprague, the American consul. There
will also be big gymkhana in which
the American officers are expected TO
participate as competitors.