The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-02-18
Royal Welcome is Extended
Sailors at ALI Points
Touched.
BENEFIT TO THE NAVY
Will be Great and Impression
{ on Foreign Powers is One
of Deep Effect.

/ Of Deep Effect.
OLD POINT COMFORT, Va. Feb.
15.-Half way across the Atlantic
ocean on the last long reach of their
spectacular cruise around the world.
the sixteen battleshlps OF che Unit
ed States Fleet are stenming today in
leisurely fashion toYards the anchor
age grounds of Hampton Roads from
whence they sailed Just fourteen
months ago. During these months Of
record steaming the heavily armored
fighting vessels have Travelled approx
imateiy $4,000 miles and are return
ing in condition still fit for "a frolic
or a fight" The cruise has been a
veritable expedition of the seven seas
land tasks heretofore deemed -impos-
lsible for the modern ironciad have
been accomplished with an ease bor-
dering on the commonplace. VI 8
The stories of the cruise have been
succeeding chapters perceptions, ban
auets. balls and merrymaking, but
back of all this relaxation and enter
tanning in the hospitable ports of the
two hemispheres has been a test OF
men and material which has placed
the American navy in an enviable po-
sition before all the world. The en-
CINE room efficiency in the longer Tugs
Iof the journey-developing new and
unexpectedly wide steaming radius for
a battleship; the facility in following
the motions OF the flagship In the feet.
SQUADRON and Divisional manuyers
which came with constant experience
at sea. and above all the .marvelons
records made at the targets In Magdd-
lena and Manila Bays tell OF the real
work and the substantial accomplish
ments that have marked this most
notable OF peace demonstrations
among the navies of the world.
The previously arranged schedule of
the Journeys from port to port had
been adhered to in remarkable man.
ner except in two instances when vio-
lent storms made full speed too dan
gerous and uncomfortable. To Offset
these lapses from punctuality the fleet
has made some of Its longest runs
two whole days ahead of time. None
OF the Undertakings imposed upon the
ships or the men. has been too diff
cult, The cruise. however, was moi. in
ausnrated without FERROUS misglvings
at home and abroad
That the experience gained on the
cruise will be of unending benefit to
the Navy is indicated from the fact
that probably one-half of the entire
personnel of the naval establishment
participated in the experimenting trip.
Three of the sixteen captains who
sailed in command of vessels. are re-
turning home as rear-admirals.
Eight other captains are returning in
command of the same ships on which
they began the journey of the world.
From rear-admIral down to midship-
man the. training has been such as no
other naval cruise ever offered.
Among the enlisted men the training
has been even more valuable. Lands
men shipped just before the start and
utterly green in the way Of the deep.
are coming home an integral part OF a
wonderful fleet efficiency and loyal be-
levers In all that the American navy
stands for. Desertions on the ship
have been few The men have taken
pride in the cruise and 1t will be
constant boast with them that they
started to the west from Hampton
Roads and came home with prows still
turned in that direction They know
the world is round. and they know
what 1t is to work and play over 49,
600 miles of the watered surface Of
the globe. ~
Even the last leg of the famous
Journey is to be given over to work.
There will be daily drills and maneuy.
ers and inspection by the commander
In chief of every vessel on the way
over. President Roosevelt will greet
the fleet on February 90, from the
bridge of the Mayfower. at the point
from which he babe farewell fourteen
months ago
There. will be two strangers in the
fleet when 1t reaches here-the Ne
braska and the Wisconsin, both Pa
citic-built, which replaced the Maine
and Alabama. detached at San Fran
cisco, and sent home in advance. The
Maine will be the flagship of the vel