The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-04
Fleet Welcomed Home.
Uncle Sam S 10 War Dogs Drop
Anchor in Hampton Roads
After Circumnavigating the
Globe-Trave eled 42,227
Miles in Ii Months and
Broke Many Records.

OLD POINT COMFORT, VA, Feb.
Enthusiastically welcomed by
the mad blowing of the whist les OF a
score of naval vessels and II hundred
or more other ships, this only to be
drowned out by the thunderous sa-
luting of twenty-one guns from each
pf the sixteen battleships in the
column. Americas record breaking
feet sailed majestically into Hamp-
ton Roads TODAY.
1t was the fleets hOme-cOminga after
its circumnavigatiOn of the globe
the most remarkable continuous
voyage ever made by the warshlps
of any navy.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
OF th- Navy Newberry. who were the
last to bid the f~et GodspeAd when
it left Hampton Roads December 16,
1907, We're the first to greet II upon
It's return. The President and his
party of naval officers aud ladies
aboard the Mayfower. which was
anchored off Thimble Shoal Light,
about seven miles out from Fort
Monroe. sighted the warships ns they
turned III through the Virginia
Capes, then formerly reviewed them
while they passed the Ma> flower in
single column. When the feet had
dropped anchor in the Roads Just
above historic old Fort Monroe, the
Mayfower steamed in among them
and Admiral Sperry the commander
in-chirf, and his flag officers and ship
captains were rereived on board by
the President. All, especially the
cOmmander-in-chie were warmly
cOngrat ulated upon the safe compile
tion of their unprecedented cruise.
II
NONE THE WORSE FOR 42,227
MILE TRIP.
As the battleships came in to-day
looking their fittest and apparently
none the worse for the wear of the
long voyage of 42.227 miles, equal
to almost twice the distance around
the equator, the naval authorities
drew II breath of relief. Not that
there had been any apprehension at
any time of any serious difficulties,
possible military work to do, but be-
cause the handling of sixteen of the
most modern and formidable sea-
fighting engines Of the world, the
supplying them with coal, oil and
food at the different ports whore
stops were made, and providing the
ships with the pick of the differs and
hf hn h f,,r
view, required careful and almost
constant attention, from the time
the cruise was first projected, in July,
1907, until the command left Gibral-
tar little over two weeks ago.
The successful completion of the
cruise without noteworthy accident
or untOward incident, from either II
naval or political point of view, is
regarded by all nations as history
making. Never before has any bat
tie command made such long and
practically continuous voyage Never
before has any feet circumnavigat ted
the globe, whether i'll one or separate
voyages Never before has any ar
madh OF any of the countries of the
world visited SO many ports, at such
great distances, in so many countries,
and under so many flags. And never
was any naval command received
with such universal manifestations
of friendly feeling, rs marked the
progress of the American feet at
every one of its two-score stops on
the cruise around the world.
READY TO FIGHT OR FROLIC
ANY TINE.
Starting out from Hampton Roads
fourteen months ago in the pink oI
condition-or, in their spotless white
and buff, more properly speaking
the sixteen great dogs of war stood
ready at every moment of the TWEEN
ty-four hoursof every day for prompt
and effective action.
"We were ready for fight or frolic, y
said Rear Admiral "Fighting Bob