Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-24
Men Who Guided Fleet Around World
are HonoPed al Wrginia's
Capital City.
ARRANT REBELS ON SPERRY's STAFF
Six Of His Seven Aides Come from
South-R.chmonders Cordially Re-
ceive and Entertain Admiral and
Over Fifty offieers-Happy Ex-
change Of Sentiments a Feature.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated fTeSS.)
RICHMOND. VA, Feb. 23.-Grace-
ful homage was paid By the South
land today to the globe circling Amer
lean bat,leship fleet in the. capitol
of the Confederacy. now the link that
binds together a solidly reunite!
country.
We welcome You to the hearts
of a people who yield 10 no one III
devotion to the American navy nor in
LOYALTY TO our flag
This >sentmen feeling expressed by
Mayor Richardson in welcoming Rear
Admiral Sperry. Rear Admiral Vain
wright and fify-four officers unde"
the formers command, to this city
the first real American city visited
bv them since their buff and white
armada slipped silently through the
Golden Gate. more than six months
agO-found harmonious echo in the
following words of gallant Admiral
Sperry:
Southerners on Staff.
On the worlds cruise l have had
about me a splendid corps OF officers.
In nv personal staff of seven men,
six Of them are commonly known on
the ships as arrant rebels Georgia,
Florida, South Carolina, all are repre-
sented among my persuRaa asdes.
while my old sour apple state Of
Connecticut, is left out entirely. With
these men at the wheel. is 1t any
wonder that we have gotten here
and have gotten here on time?
MANY a noble son of Dixie land
as he sat side by side in the richly
decorated banquet hall of the Jeffer-
son Hotel this afternoon, fraternizlng
with American officers clad IN blue
and braid, felt rather than expressed
a deep sense of pride in their coun-
trv. in their Americanism. in the
common cause for which every moth
er's son of them stood ready to yield
up his life's blood.
Second inspiring Event.
If the homecoming of the battlefield
was an inspiring sight, today's event
was grand one.
Yesterdays show of might was no
more impressive than today's meet
ing Of the representatives of men. in
all walks of civil life. of all ages. ana
Of unyielding loyalty to the cause OF
Lee and jefferson DAVIS. with the
men upon whom the fate OF the ma
ton would depend in event OF war
with a foreign power
They mingled in spirit Of staunch
fellowship that sent thrill OF glad
ness to the hearts of those present not
so old but that they could remember
the time when Mason and DixOn's
line was more than an imaginary and
irregular line that divided the United
States into a North and South.
National in Importance.
Tho occasion was national in i'm
portance and it apparently was so
regarded by all those who particl-
pated.
Recently when the battleship fleet
was approaching the Atlantic sea
hoard an the last leg of the most
remarkable cruise in history. 'he
Richmond Chamber Of Commerce. an
organization representative OF the
progress and aggrcssivencss Of the
new South. extended an invitation TO
A'miral Sperry ard the officers IN
der his command. 10 an informal
luncheon to bc given soon after their
arrival in Hampton Roads
To Further Good Will.
Tn. alacri:y with which II was
accepted and with which the accept
ancc was approved by the navy de-
rartment. in the fare Of perfect Dc
luce Of similar invitations from other
nearby cities clearly indicated IN
those present today. so il was said,
that the oI.goinS administration de
sired to further in every possible way
tho feeling OF cordiality and good viii
among the people of the South toward
the people Of the country as whole
so earnestly sought by Prcsidcnt-"lect
Taft
The visitors arrived here TO-DAY
shortly before noon by train from
Fortress Monroe. escorted by local
committee.
Another committee was waitin:
with squadron Of automobiles "a
convey the visitors to the governor
mansion where a reception was
planned
Governor Was Absent.
Governor Swanson was dctsin"d NJ
Norfolk. however. aud the motor train
headed bv an automoisl" police IA
troll WAGON which afforded the Off
Ger, much amusement. passed into
-..-. rh;ra nasal