The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-22

led the bridge of the Mayhower, the
| band on board the flagship began to
play the Star Spangled Banner" The
president doffed his silk hat and stood
at attention in salute to the flag. As
the last strains of the national anthem
died away the roar of another salute
shook the air. This time it was the
Connecticut alone that fired. F'ormida-
BILE, self-reliant, fairly bristling with
heavy calibred guns she steamed by the
Mayfiower, a splendid example of
American naval architure. In the wake
of the Connecticut came the Kansas
1.-The cleanest ship in the navy"
The Kansas SaIutes.
The Kansas is a counterpart of the
Connecticut in every detail. AS she
passed the same ceremonies set by the
, ,f1agship were followed, including the
individual salute of 21 guns to the
presidents flag.
The Minnesota and the Vermont in
turn, completed the passage of the
first division. Eight hundred yards
separated the first and second divi-
sions. AS Rear Admiral Sperry COM
mander in chief of the fleet stood
upon the after bridge of the Connecti-
cut so stoo dRear Admiral Richard
Wainwright on the after bridge of the
sion, which included also the battle
ships Nebraska, New Jersey and
Rhode Island. All four ships of the
division are of exactly the same de-
sign.
Following the second division which
completed the ,rst squadron came the
second squadron, composed of the
third and fourth divisions. The SECOND
and the third divisions are command
ed by Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder.
Admiral Schroeder, whose flag was
flying, stood on the after bridge of the
Louisiana, a ship of the Connecticut
class. The other three ships of the
division are the Missouri and Ohio of
similar design and the Virginia, which
belongs to the Georgia class.
The last of the returning ships pass
ed with the fourth division, COM
manded by Rear Admiral William P.
Potter, with his two starred flag at the
main of the Wisconsin. After the Wis
consin steamed the Illinois and last
in the line came the Kearsarge and
Kentucky, the oldest ships in the fleet.
The Illinois and the last two vessels
named are to be taken out of the fleet
at once to undergo a practical re-
building. Their places while they are
being modernized are to be taken by
the New Hampshire, the Idaho and
the Mississippi. All three of these
vessels were in the line of welcoming
ships.
Cheers for the Maine.
Appearing vastly warlike and grim.
the Maine in her new dressing of gray
followed 800 yards in the wake of the
Kentucky. She received from the
cheerin- throngs all of the honors ac-
fleet. Rear Admiral Arnold, command
ing the third squadron of the Atlantic
fleet, was on the bridge of the Maine.
The Idaho, the Mississippi and the
New Hampshire were the last of the
battleships in line and were followed
by the impressive looking armored
cruisers North Carolina and Montana
and lastly by the rakish looking little
scout cruisers Chester, Salem and
Birmingham, which have the speed of
the wind.
The little tender Yankton which pre-
ceded the fleet into Hampton Roads last
Wednesday and since that time had
gone to Washington to bring a ransom
of gold to pay off the officers and men
of the home coming vessels met the
ing and steamed proudly by the May
flower with saluting cannon roaring a
tribute to the presidents flag as loud
as any armor clad in the powerful
column.
When the last of the cruisers had
was steaming by Old Point pier more
than seven miles away and the great
crowds gathered there were cheering a
pefect ecstay of welcome enthusiasm.
Each ship as itpassed the pier and
turned to anchor in the two lines Of
sQuadrons running in a crescent in the
direction of Norfolk received a welcome
as demonstrative and as Joyous as that
extended to the flagship.
Mayf1Ower Drops Anchor.
After the ships had nchored lit
seemed by a moment before the rain
bow lines of flutering signal flags and
bits of vari-colored bunting sprang as
if by magic to the mastheads. In the
line left by the warships, the May
flower, gaily dressed herself in honor
of Washington. soon was seen making