Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-06

GIBRALTAR. February 6.-With the
bands on board playing Home, Sweet
Home the American fleet of sixteen bat
tleships under Rear Admiral Sperry left
Gibraltar at II O'Clock this morning for
Hampton roads on the last hap of it's
famous around-the- e-world cruise of 1900
miles. One hour later the vessels were
well clear of the land and steaming west
ward in double column formation at a
speed of ten knots an hour. They will
follow the southern route to Hampton
roads. a distance of 1900 miles, and
about LOCO miles of the American coast
they will be met by the third squadron
of the Atlantic feet under Rear Ad-
miraI Arnold. consisting Of the, battle
ships Maine, Mississippi. New Hampshire
and Idaho and the scout cruisers Chester.
birmingham and Salep. With Admiral
Arnolds ships as an escort. the world
touring vessels will proceed toward Hamp-
ton roads, where they will be re-
ceived by President Roosevelt Washing
toms birthday.
The weather conditions at the time Of
departure were glorious. The sky was
without cloud and there was just
enough breeze to curl the crests of the
sun-fooded waves. Nothing could have
surpassed the beauty of the marine pic
ture as the American armada emerged
from the shadow of the towering rock OF
Gibraltar and moved out into the straits.
Display of seamanship.
The difficult operation Of getting the six
teen huge battleships out of the narrow
war basin Of the port and under way was
accomplished with skill and perfection
of maneuvering and detail which won
the admiration Of all the foreign naval
oficers who watched the proceedings crit
ically from land and sea. Admiral Sperry
directed the whole operation from the
after bridge of the Connecticut. At $50
o'clock the signal to unmoor was given
and the great chains holding the ships to
the buoys were loosened, one by one.
until the vessels were held to their an
chorages by only a single strand. AT
s:5o stream of multi-coored signal flags
on the flagship communicated the order
10 get under way to the Georgia. the Ne
braska. the New Jersey. the Rhode Island
and the Virginia lying at the rear OF the
basin
Ships Creep Out.
AS the flags came futtering down five
minutes later the designated battieships
cast off their last lines and, like freed
leviathans seeking escape. they slowly
swung their noses in the direction of the
breaches In the breakwater. Twisting
and turning 10 the changing of engine
gongs. they crept out. the Georgia lead
ing the way. with Lieut.. Commander
George w. Kline on the bridge.
Once outside. Rear Admiral VAIN
wrights division fell into formation and
waited for the second and third groups
The second group consisted of the Yer
mont. proudly flying the battle efficiency
trophy at her fore; the Minnesota, Ken
lucky. Ohio and kearsarge. and the third
was composed of the Wisconsin, Kansas
Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois. The
three groups waited outside. and at 1870
the Connecticut brought up the rear.
Parting Salutes Fired.
Although it is not customary TO fire
parting saiutes, the Devonshire the flag
ship of Rear Admiral Sir James Good
rich, r. N, admiral superintendent at
Gibraltar, which had taken up position
at the entrance of the harbor. hoisted and
saluted the American flag as the Con-
necticut passed out. The band on the
quarterback of the Connecticut played
the English anthem. while the musicians
the foreign warshps played The
Star Spaugled Banner as the respective
ensigns were dipped.
Admiral Goodrich and Admiral I.itvinoff
of the Russian navy sgnaIed GOODBYE;
pleasant voyage"
Admiral Sperry replied, laconically,
Thanks"
Then the Connecticut steamed ma jes-
ticalIy along the line of the waiting
American vessels, took its place at the
head of the column and set the guide
flag. five OF clubs" The fifteen other
vessels wheeled gracefully in behind the
Connecticut. and with the black speed
cones up to the yardarms the inlpos-
ing procession, which was over three
miles long. moved to the south.
The alignment of the vessels was per-
feet and the sight SO impressive that the
spectators crowdiug the terraces OF the
Alameda and the Europa point could not
restrain exclamations OF delight while the
American passengers two liners an
chored close In to shore burst into invol-
untary cheers.