The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-23


saluted the presidents flag, at the
mainmast of the graceful little cruiser
yacht, represented 420,49O tons of wa
ter displacement. Every battleship in
commission in the navy had a place in
the long line. There were 20 of the
heavily belted vessels, Is being among
the original 16 that sailed away IA
months ago. The only vessel missing
from the line today was the Alabama.
She came home with the Maine last
October and both of these ships had
the distinction of going all the way
around the world, even if they were
excluded from the fleet itself. The
Maine served only as flagship of the
squadron vessels sent to meet the
incoming fleet and as the wireless dis
patches already have told how she was
greeted at sea with all the enthusiasm
of an old friend. The Alabama is in
reserve at the New York navy yard.
The strangers in the fleet today were
the Nebraska. which replaced the
Maine, and the Wisconsin, which re-
placed the Alabama. Both these ves-
sells were built on the Pacific coast.
Both joined the fleet at San Francisco
and today made their first appearance
In an Atlantic port. The battleship
fleet and its escorting squadron Of
four battleships and five cruisers ar
rived at the southern ocean drill
grounds, so miles off the Virginia
capes, yesterday, and while there made
ready for todays review.
Great Excitenoept
The news that the fleet was almost
within sight Of the shore caused great
excitement in all the cities bordering
Hampton Roads and today, at the first
streaks of the coming day, residents Of
Norfolk, Newport News and other
nearby places, began to make their
way to some previously selected point
Of vantage along the borders of the
ocean or bay.
The battleships picked up their reg
ular cruising speed of 10 knots an
hour early this morning. Brasswork
was polished to degree of unequaled
brilliancy and whatever paintwork had
been marred on the journey home, fresh
coats of white and buff, applied yes
terday, made the ships appear again
as they did on that beautiful day in
December, 1907, when they sailed away
on a worlds cruise.
When the battleships pointed their
prows at daylight toward the gate
way of the Roads, the Mayflower, with
the president and party on board, was
steaming down Chesapeake bay to the
anchorage at the Tail of the Horse
Al,o - yTyI-s
BILE shoales, where, IA months ago, the
president had stood on the bridge of
the same trim little vessel to review
the outgoing fleet and bid it Godspeed
on it's epoch making journey.
Visit Ships.
Today the president addressed not
only the officers of the fleet gathered
upon the quarter deck Of the May
flower, but he visited the four divis-
ional flagships and there he addressed
the crews in terms OF enthusiastic
compliments AS it was impossible
for Mr.. Roosevelt to visit each of the
16 returning vessels, representatives
of the men from each ship in the four
divisions were gathered upon the flag
ships and they in turn took the pres
idents greetings to their shipmates.
The Mayflower had not long lain at
anchor when the traces of smoke on
the horizon told of the approach of
the fleet and soon the mastheads Of
Connecticut could be picked up with
glasses through the wide swung capes
Then the white hull of the famous
flagship flashed into view. Out of the
distance the fleet grew rapidly until
at last the end of the white column
in front could be distinguished.
Gray Clad Escorts.
The gray-clad hulks of the escorts
drew far more slowly across the hor-
izon and served as a splendid demon
stration of the value of neutral COL
or for warships in time Of war. While
the leading ships We're still a mile or
more distant from the Mayflower
puff of white smoke from the for
ward bridge of the Connecticut, fol-
lowed by a muffled boom as the sound
waves followed more slowly the dane
ing waves of light, served as a signal
to all the fleet that the flagship had
Mayflower. 1t was also the signal
of 'home at last" and made the hearts
of $4,000 men and 600 officers beat
quicker in realization that they day
they had looked forward to through
all the days of hospitality abroad had
at last arrived. That first gun of the
Connecticut's naval salute to the
president found every ship in the line
with saluting canon ready and the
second powder puff from the flagship
had not died away when the guns of
all the other ships had begun to speak
in unison the honors due the chief ex-
ecutive. The fleet was almost lost to
view as the saluting was at it's height,
but the clearing veil of smoke flashed
the ships into view in far more bril-
liant picture than had been the first
glance far down on the horizon
Inspiring Scenes.
The president made his way to the
bridge of the Mayflower, while the SAL
uting was in progress. He had not
long to wait before the imposing line