The San Francisco call., 1909-02-23
FLEET FINISHES
$4,000 MILESAIL
ON TIME TO DOT
Great Armada Reviewed by the
President and High Praise
Paid Men and Officers
Roosevelt OveriOyed at Success
full Completion of Worlds
Greatest Naval Cruise
''We'Ve Shown the World the
American Coast Is or the
Pacific" He Cries

eSEASs lIS SA1SS
Sperry by the arm and lead him off
TO one side FOR a confidential chat. On
the Connecticut the president climbed
upon the barbette or steel foundation
of the after turret with its protruding
l2 inch rifles, and in the shadow of
those great suns he briefly addressed
the crew.
In order TO reach the shelf Of the
bsrbette, some I've feet above the deck,
the president had 10 step first upon a
water hydrant. His foot slipped when
he made the initial attempt and he
narrowly escaped a fail which might
have proved serious As he finally made
the gun platform the crew cheered lus-
tily- The president interspersed his
prepared 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 far accomplished.
WANTS ROUGH WATER WORK
You have done Al in smooth water, :"
said the president, "but what I want
TO see next year is a target practice
under the conditions in rough water"
The biuejackets on the after bridge
started the cheering which was caught
Up by the white gloved officers.
For if you ever have to 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 en-
thusisstic on anything appertaining to
It. and the rivalry between the differ
p ent ships, both at record and battle
practice, is intense. The men cheered
again when the president declared that
this was the first battle fleet ever to
circumnavigate the globe, and that any
other nation that ever attempted sim
4lar performance must follow in the
footsteps Of America.
You have done the trick" he ex-
claimed, and the quick response of the
men brought a glad smile to the speak
er's lips Other nations may fol-
low, repeated the president, but they
have got TO go behind"
The cheering broke out afresh when
the president declared of the cruise
that nobody. after this, will forget
that the American coast is on the Pa
cihc as vel as the Atlantic" When
the president had concluded and was
about to be -'piped over the side" 10
continue his round of the hagships, a
member OF the crew proposed three
cheers and a tiger. They were given
with vigor that fairly swept the chief
executive OF his feet and as he bowed
acknowledgment he exclaimed: IT
there were enough Of me I'd cheer for
you"
Day Cold and Gray
The day OF the fleets home coming
was cold and gray A drizzling down
pour Of rain followed an early morning
fog that threatened seriously to inter
fere with the arrangements for the
entry and review. The Mayfower in
the night had had periIous journey
down the lower Potomac and through
the Chesapeake bay, for scores of ex-
cursiOa craft from Washington and
Baltimore Were striving with her tc
make their way through the grav
banks Of mist But the Mayfiowe1
safely reached her anchorage of the
lightship that marks the tail of the
Horseshoe shoals and took up a posi-
ton in almost the identical spot where
"A months ago the president bade the
departing vessels God speed on Their
momentous journey.
Promptly at the hour set for the
fleets arrival, IL a. m, a fash OF flame
and puff OF white powder from the
forward bridge of the Connecticut
marked the beginning OF a day Of sa-
lutes that reverberated over the
dancing waters OF the roadstead with a
continuous roar that suggested the din
OF the actual battle. In addition to the
salutes fired several times in honor OF
the president and almost in the midst
Of the difficult maneuvers Of swinging
the ships into anchorage position, 3
tribute TO the father Of his country was
not forgotten.