Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-21
MIGHTY FLEET
NEARS HOME
SHORES
TWENTY BATTlESHIPS AND
FIVE ARM0RED CRUISERS
Sperry's Command Augmented
by the Welcoming Squadron
Elaborate Preparations at
Norfolk for Arrival of Vessels


IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wireI
Old Point Comfort. Feb 20.--When
the saluting guns on the forward
bridge Of the armored cruiser North
Carolina doomed thirteen times today
in honor Of the blue flag of Rear Adj
miral Sporty on the battleship Con
necticut, the combined forces that
are to enter the Virginia capos on
Monday morning to be reviewed by
President Roosevelt in celebration Of
the world cruise OF the sixteen Ameri-
can battleships, were completed
Wireless signals received from the
North Carolina and her junior con-
sort, the Montana, early today told
of the approach of the last two ships
sent to welcome the home coming
vessels to the fleet The wireless
station at the Norfolk navy yard
could not pick up the fleet direct eli
ther last night or today ON account
OF static Interference in the atmos-
phcre, but the messages from the
North Carolina were sufficient evil
dcncc that the fleet Is near enough
to the Virginia capcs tonight to in-
sure its arrival off the entrance to
\.
Tho fleet viii lay to or mancuvcr off
the capcs tomorrow afternoon ana
evening ana viii get under way Mon
day morning in time to pass into
home waters and begin filing by the
MayfloWer exactly at the hour indi-
Gated Last nights static Interference
witt the wireless asa tN- Inability of
the apparatus to carry over great
distances during the day has resulted
IN congestion of outgoing mes
sages at the Norfolk station. which
probably never VIII be fully straight
cnrd out until the fleet is actually in
port.
scores of officers wives are al
ready at the hotels here. Among them
are about nineteen who made the
journey all the way around the world
on merchant ships and who overlook
or waited with naval vessels at the
various ports visited, some of these
intrepid women even went all tho way
to Australia, but most Of them re-
manned in Japan while their husbands
were in the Antipodes. There arc
other wives here who went with the
Fleet as far as California The social
feature of the feet's return is to be
as notable as the departure
Washington's birthday is to be
celebrated as Il holiday more gener-
ally than ever before in this section
and all the residents Of Norfolk, New
port News. Hampton ana other cities
who can possibly do so, viii either be-
afloat or gathered along the shores
OF the roadstcad TO witness the i'm
prcssive arrival of the shiis and the
ceremonies attending the visit of the
president.
The man Of war anchorage, stretch
ing three miles in crescent from
Old Point pier was cleared today Of
all merchant ships.
After the MayfloWcr leaves Wash
ington late Monday afternoon how
ever. excursion steamers win be al
lowed within the anchorage grounds
and may steam between the lines of
twenty battleshps and five big crus-
ers.
Rear Admiral William II. Emory.
who commanded one Of the divisions
of the fleet up TO the time of his
retirement at Manila, last November,
arrived today TO witness the home
coming of the fleet ana to provide for
the transfer Of his effects brought
home on his old flagship. the Louisl-
ana.
According TO adviccs received here.
the Georgia is not the only one Of
the sixteen hattleships that Is coming
homo in command of the executive
officer. Captain Hamilton Hutchns.
who was in command Of the Kear-
sarge from Hampton r,oads all the
way to Gibraltar, became IN there
ana asked for relief The Kcarsarge
is probably, therefore. in command of
Lieutenant Commander Nathan G.
Thwining Captain lIutchins returned
from Gibraltar on the Kocnigin Luise