The Washington times., 1909-02-22

y
hind the Kentucky, the last of tus bat
tlnShiU feet TO pass the President Then
came the idaho, Mississippi Montana,
New hampshire and North Carolina,
followed by the scout cruisers Bir-
mlugnam. Chester and Salem
BY $50 O'Clock TN" Geet was at rest.
the anchors has been cast ir its own
waters and the record breaking tour
h&d become part of history. II only
, remained now for the officers to re-
port 90 the COmmaHdeT-in-C'biCf that
the cruise of his creation had been
successful one and had marked an
epoch ia the navigation OF the seas of
TINS and other lands. With this object
I'M view, Rear Admiral Spcrrv assem-
nleo about him the commanding Of
/ ucers and. going aboard the MayhOwer.
when had lifted anchor and followed
slowly and taken las place among the
anchored ships. formally made his re
port Rear Admiral Arnold. accom-
panied by the three other rear ad-
miralS and the captains, had come
aboard in launches
Visits Flagships.
Following his sincere fluctuations. the
, President went aboard the nagships of
each division, where in a short speech
upon each occasion he congratulated
officers and men. He then returned TO
the yacht and began preparation for his
return 10 Washington
There was Il sigh Of relief when the
foTmaHtieS were over. EVERYBODY was
hungry for the sight Of loved ones and
eager TO touch once more the shores
( of their native land The thirst OF Off
/ clal functions had long since passed.
IN the meantime the ships must he
coaled and put In shape for harbOr duty.
| This means much work, impatient work,
/ When one has not touched foot 10
American soil for many u day
| During the week there is to ne a
! round Of festivities for the reunited Of
} ilcers and their families. The city is in
, gala attire. welcome is embIazoncd
/ on every door and Norfolk and Old
] Point Comfort will demonstrate that re
/ turning ConqueTorS never received a
! more joyous homecoming than will
/ these men who went Oh a mission OF
! peace, but prepared to tight.
Returns Intact
/ 1t VAS an ideal fleet as it left Hamp-
/ ton Roads on December 16. 1907. II was
/ an ideal feet that returned today after
! its sides had been washed by waves of
/ more than 10000 miles Of the deep Rear
! Admiral Sperry. when he left Gibraltar
/ and 1000 miles behind him. said that
/ the vessels could go half that distance
! again, intact, without haviuo- 20 20 70
! dock This, indeed is a renarka hla
/ record, and even naval experts who
/ nave studied all the reports of Rear Ad-
/ mural Evans. who took the fleet around
I Inc Horn so san Francisco. and SDerry-
( who brought il in triumph home again.
I are unable 10 estimate Just what the
rear value or il all has been
I Never before has any hattie command
maze Sirn a long and continuous 'vOv-
/ age Never has the fleet Of any nation
/ VISITED As many other nations nor has
| IL ever peen received with more friendly
ieeiIug- That the voyage has had a
( good effect generally is accepted as
true by navy officials.
The voyage was one Of comparatively
. ~
/ III several foreign ports conditions were
lcIn1 Inat We're conducive 10 sickness.
At Rio DE Janeiro and CaIIaO the feet
round yellow fever and other dreaded
epdemics, at Manila there was cholera.
/ 'nTtd1ilu@ The shore leave: at ATnov.
too. cholera was found. at Singapore
and Colombo there were smallpox, choI-
era, and yellow fever. at Mcssina. peSti-
lcuCc followed IN the wake or the ter
Iiole earthquake.
Run of Good Luck.
Yet no malady struck the feet The
casualty list was but little larger than
that when tho fleet is 81 home.
/ The excellent discipline maintained
was q remarkable feature OF the vov-
age. The conduct Of the enlisted men,
subjected 10 the peculiar temptations
OF every cline, has been Il marvel al
tho Nsvy Department. Several court
4 maTtIais were necessary however. 5ul
The number was really below that ex
uected
ON charges involving INVESTIGATION
conduct uuDecomiug gentlemen. and
those Of similar nature. there were four.
teen trials and twelve convictions ~
{ officer above the grade OF Lieutenant
commander, except Captaiu'Q ualtrouEh
. of tie Georgia fell from grace. OF al
. those homeward bound, perhaps Dual