The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-27

MAGNIFICENT SCENE AT HAMP.
TON ROADS YESTERDAY.
Ships Pass I'm Review of Roosevelt
All Bands Crash in "Star Spanglcd
..Banner" When MayfiOwer Draws
Near-America Sets New Standard
For Naval Cruises-President
Makes Stirring Address.

v
For Naval Cruises-President
Makes Stirring Address.
Old Point Comfort, Feb. 22.-With
homeward bound pennants streaming
far behind them, twenty eight bands,
playing "The Star Spangled Banner"
and saluting cannon roaring a tribute
to the president of the United States.
the battleship fleet of the American
navy ended its worlds cruise here to-
day.
After steaming in review of the
president whose eagle crested flag of
blue was at the main of the cruiser
yacht Mayfiower, the sixteen white
battleships finally cast anchor in the
same fair bay Of Hampton Roaods
whence they started fourteen months
ago on their notable journey of 49,
600 miles The joy of homecoming
was written upon every face of the
blue Jackets. and every officer on
board the sixteen ships.
The long cruise visits to many of
the most famous ports of the world
the homage that has been paid to the
fleet by every nation favored on the
calling list have been sources of in
tense interest to every one aboard
the famous vessels, but unquestion-
ably there was no scene in all the
world to compare in beauty with the
familiar landmarks picked up by the
fleet, as 1t steamed triumphant.
self-reliant and efficient force through
the Virginia Capes today and entered
the hospitable waters of Chesapeake
Pay and Hampton Roads.
The American navy has set new
cruising standard for the other navies
Of the world to strive for.
AS she led the beautiful column If
battleships ready for any emergency
| and bidding defiance to the storms
| or tortuous channels OF the strange
waters of the hemispheres out Hamp-
ton Roads fourteen months ago, and
as she piloted the fleet through ali the
seas and into all the ports Of the long
cruise the flagship Connecticut steam
ed again today at the head of the re-
turning squadrons.
The day Of homecoming dawned
with the prospects of weather al fair
~ the day in December. 1907, on
which the fleet set sail. Foreign ma
val attaches. immense parties of gov
ernment officials, high officers Of the
army and navy were aboard the fleet
OF welcome which steamed out 10
greet the incoming vessels and to wit
ness the review by the president in
the tail of the Horseshoe.
The Mayflower which came down
from Washington last right with a
distinguished party on board. cast her
anchors In the same waters today,
where she took up her position at The
sailing Of the fleet. After the cere-
monial greeting Of the battleships
and their escort, the Mayhower
steamed herself at the end of tho long
column into Hampton Roads. and,
when the Homecoming yes ;els had
anchored, took her position in the
centre Of the fleet.
Admiral Sperry and other flag Of
iicers together with the captain COM
handing. were received on board and
to them President Roosevelt extend
ed a cordial thanks, which ne after
wards expressed anew to the Office. 8
and crews Of the four divisional flag
ships which were visited ,a.., in the
afternoon.
In the battleship and cruiser squad
rons that filed by the Mayllower to-
day and saluted the presidents flag at
the main of the graceful little cruis-
er yacht, there were represented $780,
49O tons of water displacement. Ev-
cry battleship In commission in the
navy had place in the long line.
There were twenty Of the heavily
belted vessels, fifteen being among
the original sixteen that sailed away
fourteen months ago. The Maine
served today as the tiag.hip of the
squadron of vessels sent 20 meet the
incoming fleet. and as tho wireless
dispatches already have told she was
greeted at sea with all the enthusi-
.asm OF an old friend.
The battleship fleet ard its escory-
ing squadron Of four batrIeships and
i've cruisers, arrived at thu Southern
Ocean drill grounds. fifty miles off
the Virginia Capes, yesterday, and