Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-02-26
rlonterey, Va. Friday. Feb, 20, 1905
THE GREATEST FLEET THAT
EVER SAILED THE SEAS
Baltimore Sun .

All America To-Day StTetclleS ouV
its arms in a welcome home to the
feet-the feet that has sailed the
seven seas and has borne the Star
Spangled Banner around the world
The big battleships come back as
veterans veterans not OF bloody
war, but of triumphant peace.
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile
Peru, Mexico, Australia, Japan,
China, India, Egypt, Italy, France,
have welcomed them in cordial hos
pitality. Officers and men have
found every port a friendly haven
and have been received by men OF
every nation as brothers and COM
rades.
This is the first fleet of modern
battleships that ever attempted to
circumnavigate the globe. When
it sailed out of Hampton Roads
that December morning fourteen
months ago there were many critics
who did not believe it would ever
round Cape Horn and reach San
Francisco without ?.3ishap that
would mar the voyage There
were grave forebodings and Tears,
and serious doubts, even among ma
val authorities, as to the wisdom
of sending on so long trip large
feet of battleships that had never
been tested outside home waters,
Naval officers of other nations
watched closely to see what mis-
takes these American commanders
would make in navigation and ma
neuvers. Timid citizens in New
York, Boston and other cities pro-
tested against sending the ships so
far away, and pointed out that 1t
left the entire Atlantic Coast almost
defenseless. Naval officials them
selves could not help feeling a little
anxious as to the experiment; for
while they had every confidence In
both ships and men no one knew
better than they the thousand
chances of storm and sea, as we'll
as the suddenness with which inter-
national complications arise. But
the fleet sailed to Rio and all the
long way around South America
and up the coast of Mexico, and
when it reached Magdalena Bay
the vessels were in such good shape
that they went at once into target
practice and executed battle ma
neuvers as if they had just sailed
from their home ports.
The ships had been tested and
tried on the 13-O00-mile sail from
Hampton Roads to San Francisco,
so that when they set out from the
Pacific Coast to the Orient it was
with the utmost confidence. The
critics had been silenced, for the
ships had proved themselves. And
at every port at which they touched
they were received with popular
demonstrations and official honors.
All along the thousands OF leagues
from Manila to Gibraltar the bat
tleships sailed through kind and
hospitable seas. Everywhere they
were greeted not only with cordial
itv but also with enthusiasm.
AS the ships steam in between
the Virginia Capes this morning all
America will greet them, for the
thousands gathered at Hampton
Roads are only the representatives
of the millions of Americans who
today thrill with pride and pleas
ure at the return of their men-of-
war.
When Admiral Evans sailed out
of Virginia waters he said the fleet
was either ready for fight or a
frolic." This was typical of the
light-heartedness which Americans
undertake any task, no matter
how great. They 60 to fete or bat
tie with the same firm confidence
and unfaltering bravery. But
though the voyage was not a fight"
it has been very much more than a
"frolic." Not only have our ships
been tried, their weak spots expos
ed and their strong points made
manifest; not only have the officers