The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-22
IS HOME
ON DRILL
GROUNDS
RETURNING BATTlESHlPS AR
RIVE OFF VIRGINIA cAPEs
AND REST THERE.
TO Be REVIEWED TO-DAY
Great Array Of Fighting Machines
and Waters Are Already Filled With
Pleasure Craft-Officers to Be En-
tertained by Navy League.

tertained by Navy League.
Fortress Monroe. Va, Feb. ,21.-The
returning battleship fleet reached the
southern drill grounds, SO miles off
the Virginia capes, early today, and
the battleship Connecticut was in
constant wireless communication
throughout the afternoon. The fleet
will remain on the ground until 5
o'clock tomorrow morning, getting un-
der way at that hour in order to make
the capes by 10 o'clock and begin
passing the Mayflower at the tail of
the Horseshoe in Chesapeake bay, one
hour later.
The weather was well nigh perfect
off the coast today, and the battle
ships during their breathing spell on
the drill grounds will be polished and
painted afresh for the review tomor-
row, which will go down in history as
one of the most notable in the annals
Of the navy.
A Notable Review.
The number of vessels in the line
that file by the Mayflpwer will not be
so great as at other reviews but never
before has the president personally
visited so many of the ships as he pro-
poses to do tomorrow. The review
will also be notable, in that it will
bring together the greatest number of
battleships ever assembled under the
American flag. There will be 20 first
class battleships in the imposing col
umn two more than at the review in
San Francisco harbor last May. In
anticipation of tomorrow's pageant
the waters off here tonight are filed
with brilliantly lighted yachts and
many classes Of government vessels.
Word was received tonight that the
president and his party on board the
Mayflower are well on their way
down to Potomac. The Dolphin is en-
route from Washington with the mem
bers of the house and senate naval
committee on board. A specially
chartered steamer is bringing another
party of more than 100 members of
congress. From Baltimore, Richmond
and New York veritable fleets of ex-
cursion boats are coming.
Arrival Reported.
Rear Admiral Sperry reported the
arrival of his fleet and the welcoming
squadron under command of Rear Ad-
miral Arnold to the navy department
this morning as soon as the rs ships
of the joint command were brought to
standstill at the ocean drill grounds.
Both Norfolk and Old Point were
fairly choked with eXcursionists and
visitors and the hotels are crowded.
The repair ship Panther converted
cruiser, commanded by Commander
Valentine S. Nelson, steamed in to-
day, the third of the auxiliaries of
the fleet to make home. A homeward
bound pennant of red streamed behind
as she entered the capes and pro-
ceeded to an anchorage almost di-
rectly off the government pier. The
Panther has been ready at all times
to make any repairs to the fleet.
Fitted with forges and all the equip
ment of a modern station ashore, the
presence of this floating machine shop
has lent feeling of security to every
commanding officer in the fleet.
The collier Ajax also came in today.
The Yankton slipped in last Wednes-
day. This busy dispatch boat re-
turned from Washington today a veri-
table treasure ship. In her strong
room tonight are golden eagles, double
eagles and half eagles to the amount
of $500, 900, to be used in paying off
the officers and men upon their ar
rival
The naval yacht Sylph, one of the
vessels placed at the disposal of the
president, arrived today to take out to
the reviewing ground tomorrow the
wives of the admirals and captains of
the fleet
Mrs. Sperry, Mrs. Schroeder, Mrs.
Wainwright and Mrs. Potter, wives of
the flag officers of the four divisions
of the fleet, are here, and more than
half of the wives of the captains also
will be on board the Sylph tomorrow.
The naval yacht Oneida, assigned
to the militia of the District Of Co.
lumbia, is here with General George
H. Harries of washington and party
on board. Vessels of the Virginia and
Maryland 'oyster navies" arrived this
afternoon and threw their rainbow
dressing lines Immediately upon an
choring. Several lighthouse tenders
and revenue cutters are here to take
out parties of government officials,
army officers, etc.
The decision of Admiral Sperry not
to attempt to receive the hundreds of
wireless messages addressed to Off
GERS of the fleet has occasioned much
woe here among the navy widows and
hosts of sweethearts who have gath.
cred to greet the home coming Off
GERS.
Taussig On Ground.
Rear Admiral Edward L. Taussig'
commandaNt of the Norfolk navy yard
and the fifth naval district, arrived
this afternoon to arrange the last de-
tails of the fleets anchorage. The
naval tugs that will form patrol and
keep the pathway of the fleet clear of
trespass began to arrive this after
noon. The torpedo boat destroyer
CONTINUED on Page Four)