Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-02-04
WARsHiPs OF FOUR NATIONS
READY TO SALUTE COMBINED
AMERICAN ARMADA.
TWO DAYS AHEAD OF TIME
sperry's Ranking Officers Disregard
Etiquette and Pay First Wis.
Its-Entertainments
Arranged.

Gilbraltar.-The C%onnecuticut Yer
mont. Kansas, Minnesota, Georgia
and Nebraska Of the Atlantic fleet,
under command of Rear Admiral Spcr-
ry, have arrived. Five GOLFERS and
the auxiliaries Yankton and Panther
are here. The fun has begun while
waiting for the other ships.
From the moment the %glistening
white hulls Of the American ships were
mere specks upon the blue water Of
the Mediterranean, every point Of van
tage on the rock OF Gibraltar was
occupied, and by the time they were
ready to round majcstically into the
harbor tho entire population seemed
10 be masscd upon the water front.
The two Brazilian battlesbips, Abe
marie and Albion, and the four ships
OF the second cruiser squadron, Just
returned from South American waters;
the Russian battlcships Tzarevitch and
Silva, and the two protected cruisers,
BOgatyr and Oleg; the French gunboat
Cassini and the Dutch gunboat Heima-
del, lying inside the brcakwater with
sides, manned, flags dipping and bands
playing. greeted the American war.
ships as each In turn entered and was
bcrthed.
AdmIrais Exchange Visits.
The American battlcships responded
with flags and music, the band on
board the Connecticut playing the ma
tional anthem OF each country repre-
scented. AS they passed the tackles
cred and stood with barred heads while
the American bands rendered God
Save the Gar"
The official calls begans as soon as
the visiting ships were m0ored. The
vice admiral. Sir James f. c. Good
rich; the admiral. superintendent and
commander Of all the naval establish
ments a Gibraltar, although Rear Ad-
miral Sperry's senior In rank, Old not
wait for the latter's visit, but immc-
didately boarded the Connecticut to
extend his greetings, at the same time
insisting that the ships OF the divisions
as far as possible anchor in the basin.
instead OF on the Algcciras side, az
previously arranged. The senior Off
GERS Of the foreign w%arships followed
suit, and later in the day Rear hd-
miral Spcrry returned the calls, going
first to the admiralty house to repay
Vice Admiral Goodrich's courtesy.
All day launches and shore boats
filled with the curious churned around
the American battleships, the sight.
seers marvcling at their size n com
pairing them with the other warships
In the harbOr.
Arrives Two Days Ahead.
Despite the rather unofficial charac.
ter OF the visit and Rear Admiral Sper'
RVS disconccrting appearance with
his feet two days before a single divi-
sion was expected. the English cyl.
IDENTIFY intend to give the Americans a
reception they will long remember.
Entertainments for the men will be
arranged by the various crews, such
as athletics, boxing and rowing
matches, and dinners and parties
ashore and afoat for the officers. The
functions will include a dinner at the
admiralty house Wednesday,
race meeting and a dinner TO be given
by the military governor. Sir Fred
erick Forester. Walker. which will be
followed by n ball at the assembly
rooms. arranged by Richard j..
sprague. the American consul. There
Will also be u big gymkana. in which
the, American officers are expected to
participate An competitors. This will