The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-20
Spectators Cheer Officers of American and Italian Ships
 As They Enter City Hall Parade of Sailors of Two Navies Witnessed by Thou
 sands of School Children
Hospitalities Will Conclude Tonight With a Banquet at Which Officers of Both
 Ships Will Be Guests

It is a safe bet that in no other city in the state has September 20 the great Italian holiday, in memory of the capture of Rome,, been celebrated to the extent that it has in Bridge port by the local Italians. This morn ing several representatives of Ntheir king, the officers of Etruria, were shown the city and given a chance to inspect the Locomobile Company of America. After that they were escort ed to the City hall, together with the officers of the American ship, Yer mont. and presented with a handsome silk flag. The Italian officers, with the Americans, were then taken to the Algonquin club where dinner was held. Later in the afternoon a parade was held in which the Italian nation had a large representation. This evening banquet will be held in honor of the Italian and American officers at the Atlantic hotel, fitting finale for the celebration of an anniversary.
 ! The trip of the Italian and American officers this morning to the factory of the Locomobile company was in four locomobiles furnished by the company for the use of the visitors. Both com- manders were interested in the plant. Commander CaSalino, of the Etruria inquired into many of the details of the work and was particularly inter ested.
 At the dty hall, following the in spection of the factory, the most pleasing incident of the day occurred. The council chambers were filled with patriotic spectators who cheered when the officers marched in. On the right stood the Italian officers and on the left the officers of the Vermont. A beautiful silk flag, the emblem of their nation, was placed at the head of of Il Sole, the Italian Weekly, and one of the most prominent workers for the success of the Etruria'S visit to Bridgeport stepped to the mayors place on the raised platform and ad- Attorney Louis Petrucceli had taken the American flag in hand to present it, when the time should come and At torney A., w. Gart1ella had done the same with the Italian colors.
 In a brief speech MT. Massey pre- sented the Stars and Stripes to Com mander Marble saying that as fitting memorials had been given the captain of the New Hampshire, which visited the city last year, it was thought proper to give the commander of the Vermont a remembrance of hiA visit to Bridgeport at this time. Repeating this speech in Italian to the Italian commander, reminding him of the v1s- it of the Fieramosca last year, the Italian. flag was presented to him. Commander Marble responded saying: "We thank you very much for this lasting remembrance, as MT. Massey has said in the name of the sailors of the Vermont and of the whole fleet, we thank you for the reception you have given us and for your hospitality. We have enjoyed every minute. We shall be more than pleased to keep this flag as a perpetual reminder of ourN visit
 Commander Casalino responded in Italian, saying that no more appro- priate gift could have been made to a soldier than a flag and that he great 1y appreciated it.
 It was intended to give the visitors a lunch at the Stratfeld, but upon re- ceipt of an invitation from the Algon- uuin club this plan was given up. Ac-. companying the officers were Mayor Henry Lee, Horace H. Jackson, Jas. V. Massey and Deputy Sheriff Louis Richards.
 About o'clock this afternoon the blue Jackets began to land from the Italian and American ships in prepa- ration for the parade. There were about 3Oe of the American sailors and half that many Italians. The lines formed at 3:30 at the foot of Wall St., and the march was started promptly.
 <Co1tinued on Second Papel