The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-23
Reception Held Malow Cabin al Conclusion Ceremonies Attending Grand
RviewAdmra Spery Replies to Chief Ecuive-Praises Loyal Willing
Cooperation of Every Man the Fee-Pesidn Thanks Men and
Junior Officers ID Name Of American Peope-Fairy Embraced
Many Personal Friends Praised Gunners in Most
Cordial Manner.

! initial attempt and he narrowly missed
o fall which might have proved seri-s
Gus. AS he finally made the gun
the crew cheered Justify. The Presi-
dent interposed his remarks freely
with asides and he particularly caught
the fancy of the men when he told
them he was immensely satisfied with
the gunnery work thus lar accomp-
lished
You have done Al in smooth
water" said the President, but what
l want to see is the target practice
under conditions in rough water"
The blue jackets on the after bridge
started to cheering which was caught
up by the white-gloved officers.
For IL you ever have fight" con-
tinued the President, you can't choose
your water"
Again the men burst into cheers.
Target work is the subject nearest the
sailors heart today. The men are
enthusiasts on anything appertaining
to 1t, and the rivalry between the
different ships both at record and bat
tleshlp practice is intense. The men
cheered again when the President de-
clsred that this was the first battle.
ship fleet ever to circumnavigate the
globe, and that any other nation that
ever attempted similar performance
must follow in the footsteps or
America.
You have done the trick, exclaim-
ed the President. and the response OF
the men brought a glad smile TO the
speakers lips. Other nations may
follow" repeated the President, but
they have got to go behind"
The cheering broke out afresh when
that nobody after this will forget
that the American coast is on the Pa
cific as we'll as on the Atlantic"
The President continued his round
Of the fagships. when a man pro-
posed three cheers and tiger"
They were given with vigor that
fairly swept the chief executive off his
feet and bowed his acknowledgment,
exclaiming II there were enough OF
me, I'd cheer for you.
In the wake OF the sixteen return
Ing battleships were four other bat
tleships Of the homo station and five
giant cruisers. In the matter Of bat
tleships, it was the heaviest fleet ever
gathered under the flag. The escort
Ing ships were garbed In the new gray
prescribed for all the vessels Of the
navy, and appeared at distance TO
disadvantage alongside the white and
buff vessels of the world-girlling
squadrons. The latter vessels, as they
go to the navy yards for docking and
such minor repairs as are needed at
the end of this memorable voyage Of
$4,000 miles, will join the company of
stay-athomes In their dressing OF neu-
trail gray, and one OF the distinctive
features Of the American navy will be
a thing of the past,
The fog did not deter any Of the
thousands who'd had planned to visit
the ocean beaches, and the shores of
the bay and roadstead. Old Point Com
fort never held such a throng as to-
day. and strong detail of artillery
men from Fort Monroe was required
TO keep the crowds from pushing those
In the front ranks Of the lines Of
spectators overheard into the sea.
Cheer-laden breezes swept from the
shores out to the incoming vessels.
The Old Point dock was black with
a restless crush OF people as the long
column of ships drew near. Swery-
, ing far out into the roadsted, the Con-
necticut led the ships to anchorage,
making long turn and pointing her
prows again toward the capes to face
the Incoming line.
Tonight the fleet. once more home,
rests In two long lines. The vessels
| were brilliantly Illuminated during the
| evening, the outlines of their hulls
| their masts and their towering tunnels
being painted In the brilliant fire OF
electric bulbs against the black ground
of the night.
Ashore. the admirals and captains
OF the fleet, together with two score
or more officers, were guests at the
annual banquet of the Navy League
of the United States, the speakers be-
| ing Rear Admiral Sperry. who re-
| sponded To the toast, The Fleet"
| Captain John c. Fremont Of the battle
ship Mississippi whose subject was
The Modern Battleship;" Lieutenant
/ Commander Ridley Mclean, first ord
nance officer. who spoke on American
Bluejackets; Governor Claude A.
Swanson Of Virginia; John w Weeks.
and Colonel Robert NJ Thompson,
whose toast was Welcome Home"
The banquet was held In the ball.
! room of the Hotel Chamberlain The
parlors and spacious Hobbies of the
hotel We're thronged with officers in
uniform. All Of the ships will remain
here for week, and at least one-half
OF the twenty-five vessels in the road
stead will remain until after the In
auguration, 3D.
The half-score Of Turkish naval OF.
1 ficers who came home as passengers
with the feet were picturesque figures
In the hotel throng Their uniforms
are much like the Americans, but In.
stead Of cap they wear red fezzes.