Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-23
CONTINUED from Page one.)

slipped when he made the initial at
tempt and he narrowly missed a fan,
which might have proved serious AS
he finally made the gun platform TIE
crew cheered Justify. The President
fnterspersed his prepared remarks free |
~ WITH asdes and he particularly |
caught the fancy of the men when he |
told them he was immensely satisfied
with the work in gunnery thus far ac-
colnplshed.
you have done Al in smooth wa
ter" said the President, but what |
want to sec next year is ii target prac-
ticc under the conditions in rough
water"
Here the bluejackets the after
bridge started cheering, which was
caught up by the white goved officers.
IF ever you have to fight" continued
the President. you cant choose your
water"
Again the men burst into cheers. Tar
-a.get practice IS TIE subject nearest the
- sailors heart today. The men are ELI
thusiastic over anything appertaining II
-. It and the rivalry between the differer;
Ships both at record and battle prac-
tice. is intense.
=. . The men cheered again when the Pres
ident declared that this was the hrst
"battic feet ever to circumnavigate the
5"~H globe" ana that any other nation which
attempted "A similar performance muF5
1+ follow in the footsteps of America
. F';i You have done the trick he eX-
- claimed and the quick response OF tE'
tlr. men brought a glad smile to the speak
80 er's lips. Other nations may follow
81 repeated the President, but they have
got to go behind
5fit The applause broke out afrean Wheh
- the President declared of the cruise tial
'"f! Nobody after this will forget that ne
.9aG American coast Is on the Pacific as wei
!" = as the Atlantic.
G4te. When the President had finished hnG
was about to he ''piped over the side
.'se2 to continue his round of the flasshos,
III" "a member of the crew proposed three
cheers and a tiger They were -iven
co with vigor that fairly swept the Chial
.--'-' Executive off his feet and as he bowed
acknowledgment he exclaimed:
'Tf there were enough of me I'd cheer
for you"
The day of the fleets home comin%
y1ey was co d and gray. DriZZ!inS ram f"I-
lowed az! early morning fog winch
threatened seriously to interfere with
-@d the arrangements for the fleets entry
- and review. The MayfloWer in the
-~r night had had perilous journey down
isGj the foWcr Potomac and through 'he5H-
tia, peake bay. for scores of excursion craft
ctr from Washington and Baltimore were
striving with her 10 MAKE tiitli. WY
IIel through the banks of mist. But the
II Mayn0wer safely reached her anchor
,aii age off the lishtship which marks the
sa2, Tail of the Horse Shoe shoals and TOOK
UP q position in almost the Identical
~: spot where, IA months ago the Presl-
~rfr dent babe the departing vessels GOD
In speed on their momentous journey
yl.s Early and promptly at the hour set
80, for their arrival. IL o'clock, flash OF
Il pIff of from
the forward bridge of the Connecticut
.1et marked the beginning of day OF sa-
10. lutes which reverberated over the
dancing waters Of the roa6stcad with
a roar that suggested the din of actual
battle In addition to the salutes fired
several times in honor OF the President
and almost in the midst of the difficult
maneuvre of swinging the ships into
an anchorage position, Il tribute TO
WashingtonS memory was not forgot
ten. Exactly at noon. in unison Win
the cannon showing their muazleS over
49, the crowded rampharts of Fortress
a. Monroe, the fleet fired a salute of Il
V. guns. each snip ie'tihs 80 S''''u'''i''-
ously.
i> The first glimpse of the warships to-
day by the President and his guests on
the Mayfowcr and the friends VIA" jour
neyed down to the Virginia capes CA TN"
biggest fleet of excursion vessels ever
praiseen in Hampton Roads was when the
- black crosses formed by the signal yaics
what the mast heads doomed above the
eri;horizou The day was so overcast that
TT the naked eye could scarcely disting ,,iSh
hn,where water ended and sky began. The
-, smoke from the fleet mingled with the
I'D Iow-yng clouds and hung over the APP
preaching vessels. But gradually the
white hull and the buff superstructure
nof the Connecticut. leading the long col
umn of the returning battleships and
their escort. took form out of the mist
Only the leading ships In the long.
=. straight line visible when the lash
=, .es from guns the flagship started The
~, salute the Presidents flag fyne Il
the main of the Maytlower. The salute
caught up by every other vessel III
the far-tlung column, which seemed to
disappear down the near distance o. til"
close-draw horizon. The flashes Of red
through the fog appeared to extend far
over the cartl,'s rim The roar of the
.Hcannon at the height of the volley was
Ar,ieafening. but the noise died away at
the finish like distant thunder, the hear
ser ships finishing the tally Of gun fire
=! some minutes before the echoes of the
y.last shots by the trailing escorts were
"'heard.
In the wake of the l6 returning battle
sIshps were four other battleships of the
home station and five giant cruisers. In
-ifhe matter OF hatteships it was the
Heaviest fleet ever gathered undo the
flag The escorting ships were CARRIED
in the new gray prescribed for an the
vessels of the navy. and as a spectacle
appeared at distinct disadvantages
along the white and buff vessels of the
world grdlinG squadron. The latter YES
sells as they so to navy yards for dock
anr and such minor repairs as are nee'i-
cd at the end of this memorable voy age