New-York tribune., 1909-02-15
NATIONS HONOR FLEET
Globe EncTclng Warships Hare
Established W0rIds NaUaL Record.

Old Point Comfort Va, Feb. 14-Hak way
across the Atlantic Ocean the last long reach
of their spectacular cruise around the world. the
sixteen battleships of the United States Atlantic
feet are steaming to-day In leisurely fashion tow
ards the anchorage grounds off Hampton Roads
from whence they sailed fourteen months ago The
heavily fighting vessels have travelled ap-
proximately forty-fve thousand miles and are
turning still fit for "a frolic a fight The cruise
has been a veritable expedition Of the seven seas,
and tasks heretofore deemed impossible for the
modern ironcad have been accomplished with an
bordering the commonplace.
The story of the cruise forms succeeding chap
ters of receptions dinners balls and merrymaking,
but hack Of all his relaxation and entertaining IN
the hospitable ports of the two hemispheres has
been test of men and material which has placed
the American navy in enviable position before
all the world. The engine room efficiency in the
longer legs of the journey, developing a and
Unexpectedly wide steamng radius for battleships;
the facility following the motions of the flagship
in the fleet squadron and divisional manHuvres
and above all, the wonderful records made at the
targets in Magdaena and Manila bays. are among
the substantial accomplishments which have marked
this notable peace demonstration.
That the experience gained the cruise will be
of unending benefit to the navy is indicated from
the fact that probably one-haf of the entire per-
sonnei of the naval establishment participated in
the record breaking trip Three Of the sixteen cap
tains who sailed of vessels are return
ing home admirals. The men have taken
a pride in the cruise and have gained the most
valuable experience.
To Rear Admiral Charles s. sperry fell the task
of directing the feet on all except the first four
teen thousand miles of its journey. Rear Admiral
Rohiey D. Evans. retired took the feet out
] of Hampton Roads December 10, 1S0f ana al
though illness soon after the confined him to
his cabin greater part of the way he retained
command until San Francisco was reached and the
first stage of the long trip had been accomplished
He was succeeded as commander in chief by Rear
dr7i-s NJ Thomas who retained COM
mand only from May TO 16 1905 being relieved at
| that time account Of failing health Two
months later Admiral Thomas died at Del Monte
Cal. Captains Seaton- Schroeder of -theNlrslnla'
! Richard wainwright of the Louisiana, and William
| B Potter OF the Vermont were the captains who
attained flag rank during the cruise
Leaving Hampton Roads cloudless day In
| December. 1901. after review by the President
from the bridge of the May1over, the first run OF
the fleet took IT to Trinidad The feet called next
at Rio where the days of the visit were over
crowded with social events. At Rio an unfounded
rumor told of plot by anarchists to blow up
some of the American vessels The itinerary led
TO Punta Arenas. on the Straits OF Magellan
The Gillian government sent cruiser 10 accom-
pany the sixteen battIeships through the treach-
erous waters Of the strait. and, sailing up the
western coast of South America the fleet passed
in review of the President Of Chill in the haroor
of Valparaiso After Callao come Masdalene
Bay.- where for a month drills and record target
practice filled the time.
After Magdalena came the excursion Of the feet
TO the California resorts and there was con-
tinuous round of merrypaaking., A trip to Puget
Sound took part of the feet TO Seattle. Tacoma
and Bellingham.
The story of the visit to Honolulu, to Auckland.
Sydney Melbourne and Albany, IN Australia; to
Yokohama. to Annoy to Manila and to the ports
of call the way hogle. is too recent 10 need
recall The welcomes extended in Australia ana
Japan as well as at other points. left nothing TO be
asked either in lavishness Of entertainment or IN
sincerity.
The battleshps reached the Suez Canal just after
the disaster in Sicily and Calabrta- The services
of the ships were offered the relief plans hao
already developed not 10 require thern- o1h-
GERS and men, however, were glad TO give up sup
plies to the earthquake sufferers and large sum
of money was contributed among the fleet
After visits TO various Mediterranean ports ana !
accepting the hospitaities of half dozen nations,
the sixteen ships gathered at Gibraltar and salleo
for home Saturday, February g. They VIII De me-
at sea about thousand miles from shore oS |
the third, or home squadron OF the Atlanuc
fleet consisting OF four batteshps and ve cruisers
President Roosevelt will greet the feet on Feotu-
ary p from the bridge of the Maynower' al tne
point from which bade the vessels farewell four
teen months ago. --..
The composition Of the feet as it returns Is as
follows:
First squadron first division (Rear- Admiral
Charles S. Sperry, commander in cheD: Ihe Con
necticut (fagship), Captain Hugo Osterhaus; the
Kansas. Captain Charles E. Vreeland; the Mime
sofa, Captain John Hubbard; the Vermont, Cap
tain Frank F. Fletcher.
Second division (Rear Admiral Richard VAIN
wright commander): The Georgia (fagship), Lieu
tenant Commander G. w. Kline; the Nebraska,
Captain Reginald F. Nicholson the New Jersey
Captain ". H H. Sutherland; the Rhode Island.
Captain Joseph B. Murdoch.
Second squadron, third division (Rear Admiral
Seaton Schroeder, conmanding): The Louisiana
(hagship) Captain Kossuth Niles; the Missouri
Captain Robert NJ Doyle; the Ohio Captain
Thomas B. Howard; the Virginia Captain Alex
ander Sharp.
Fourth division (Rear Admiral ". q. Potter COM
manding): The Wisconsin Cfagship). Captain Frank
E. Beatty; the Illinois, Captain John NJ Bowyer
the Kearsarge, Captain Hamilton Hutchlns; the
Kentucky. Captain Walter c. Cowles.