The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-15
ADMIRAL SHERRY
 RECEIVED BY KING
Cordial Greeting Is Given To
 The American Officers
ALL ITALY IS GRATEFUL
King Victor and His Admrals Extenu Greetings to Officers of American Fleet and Thank Them for
 Aid to Sufferers.

Rome, January liking Victor Elm manuel received Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry in private audience at the Quiernal palace today. His majesty eonversed in English for more than half an hour. The voyage of the fleet he regarded as a most remarkable achievement. He had followed it's movements even to details. The King expressed his deep appreciation for what America had done for Italy in sympathy and relief for those who had suffered in the earthquake The Italian people would never forget the unanimous manifestation of the American govern ment and the American nation down to the humblest citizen. His majesty all luded to the energy shown by MT. Gris com, the American ambassador, in prompt ly sending a cruiser to the spot. Rear Admiral Sperry, after the private audi ence. presented his staff to the King.
 The King talked with each member of the staff and expressed his pleasure at being able to meet them.
 Admiral Mirabello, the Italian admiral, took occasion at a dinner last evening given by Ambassador and Mrs. Griscom in honor of Rear Admiral Sperry to voice the feeling of the Italian nation towards the American people and the American navy. Several distinguished officers of the Italian navy were present and be- sides Rear Admiral Sperry and his staff there were also among the guests four American officers and two midshipmen.
 MT. Griscom proposed the health of King Victor Emmanuel and Admiral TD. oIA and the American navy, the admiral ex- pressing the gratitude of all Italians for the succor which the American navy had given. The immensity of the disaster he said, had brought forth splendid proof of the solidarity of humanity even be- yond the ocean. Admiral Mirabello con- graduated Admiral Sperry upon the cruise which is now approaching an end. This performance of the American fleet he said, had given material for thought to every navy.
 The admiral said he desired also ito send affecticnate salutations to my friend Admiral Evans, a veteran of the civil war, who initiated this cruise and to ex- press to you, Admiral Sperry, my admira- ton for having worthily substituted him in the supreme command
 During the audience the King was very gracious. He had Admiral Sperry sit next to him and conversed with him as though the American officer was on old friend. The conversation dealt mostly with the cruise of the Atlantic battleship fleet and his majesty showed a striking knowledge of everything connected with naval mat ters, even to their most minute details, frequently using naval idioms and col loquial expressions.
 1 He inquired at great length concerning 1 gunnery and the tactical work aboard the ] fleet and especially regarding its ability ] to maintain itself in efficient condition and
 concerning repairs.
 l The King told Sperry that from the diff | ferent places where the fleet had stopped 1 he had received records of the cruise, and l that these he had read and studied with i great care.
 l His majesty said he considered the globe l circling tour one of the finest events in l with extraordinary familiarity into the
 service conditions of the American feet
 and in so doing demonstrated his intimate l knowledge of foreign naval rules and or 1 ganization.
 l Several recollections that his majesty
 referred to during the audience gave an i indication of how closely he followed i every particular connected with men and
 events. In speaking of the American
 navy, Its development and achievements,
 the King mentioned Rear Admiral Robley 1 D. Evans, retired. and recalled with great | pleasure having been aboard the battle 1 ship Kentucky at Genoa, when Admiral Evans was returning home from the Chi
 nese station His majesty asked Admiral l Sperry the reasons for Admiral Evans re- l trement, desiring to know whether 1t 1 was because he had reached the age limit | or because of the condition of his health. l After the private audience, King Victor l Emmanuel received Rear Admiral Sper- l ry's staff, the members of which were
 surprised by the way In which he sized 1 them up, seemingly scanning each man l from head to foot. Indeed the officers de-
 clared afterward that they never went
 through such close scrutiny during their
 careers. Before the audience had ended
 the King again congratulated Admiral l Sperry and his officers, saying that their
 exploits had shown honor to their coun-
 try Admiral Sperry immediately tele-
 graphed report of the audience to the
 navy department at Washington.