Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-18
When Returning Batueships Greet
President in Hampton Roads
Great Noise Viii Result.
LINE WILL Be SEVEN MILES LONG
President Will Deliver a Speech on
Each of Four FIagships--WiiI Re-
ceive Commanders-Even Will Be
Most Formidable Naval Show in %he
Country's History.

WASHINGTON. Feb. l7.-Nearly
2.cn0 guns-the biggest salute ever
fired in honor OF any American. or
ever fired in the histG:'y OF the Amerl-
can navy-will be discharged in recog-
milton OF the flag of the president
of the United States during the re
view BY President Roosevelt of the
Atlantic fleet upon its return 10
Hampton Roads next Monday. Every
one of the 2U battleshipS and crulS-
crs will fire 81 guns upon first sight
ing the Mayf, over. as the fleet APP
proaches the Tail of the Horseshoe
Each shin will fire a like salute Just
after Daysing the Mavflower in re-
view and the salute will |" repeated
as the President leaves the fleet in
the AFTERNOON to return to Washin"-
ton In addition to this. the four flag
ships of the two main squadrons oil
the fleet-those which made the world
cruise-will fire u guns each as the
President boards them to address the
officers and men and again as ne
leaves them
Roar Like Continuous Thunder.
Never before will so much powder
have been burned in salute in one DAY
hv the American navy. The roar OF
the battle between the Monitor AMI
the Merrimac in Hampton Roads
would have sounded like merS pistol
shooting as compared with the con
tinuous thunder that will be echoed
across from Hampton Roads from
early midday until o'clock in the
afternoon. The total number OF guns
to be fired ly the combined three
suuadrons as whole will be 80 Tor
each of the three salutes and the
total guns of the two additional sa-
lutes for each of the four fiagships
will be 1863. making a grand total OF
LAB guns. The salnting guns Will
he six Founders. and the powder used
will he black powder. which mas been
condemned for regular gunnery work.
No matter how bright the sunshine
the Presidents view of his great fleet
will be through a CONTINUOUS cloud
OF smoke.
comuared with Other Events.
The most formidable naval show
previously made by the American ma
w was at San Francisco. when Sec
rotary Of the Navy Metcalf viewed
the combined Atlantic and Paclfic
fleets upon the arrival of the former
upon it's globe circling cruise Iht'
combined forces of salvting ships
numbered Is battleships. Is armored
cruisers and > protected cruisers
more than viii! be in the parade into
rJamBton Roads Februar: 2c-but the
:, trctarv's salute OF but ~ guns was
fired only once When the fleet lett
Hampton Roads December rs. 1907.
il was composed OF 16 saluting ships
but there were only two rounds of sa'
Jutcs for each ship. The fleet was
a; anchor i'm The Roads when the
President appeared that morning on
the Mavflowcr. At sight Of his flag
the entire fleet fired its 81 guns. An
choring at the head Of the column,
There was no further saluting. some
CO gins were fired then.
Fleet to Enter cspes at 1915.
The program Of salutinS. as out
lined above was officially decided upon
a, tho navy department today. follow
ing tho approval If Secretary Newbcr-
~. and then Nv the President. of Ad-
rniral SperrFs plan for his arrival
and tie review by this program
the fleet headed by the Connecticut.
will enter the Virginia capes a; IL: ID
o'clock at ~ knots speed. As II
sights he Navfiowcr. which will he
anchored 10 tho nor;E OF the chan
ucI off the Tail OF the Horseshoe.
the spccd will Ne slackened to SIX
miles an hour. which speed will I've
followed Nv the remainder ut the
flee; into the Connection anchoTase
ci-h, mills off Fo=; MonroN The
Connecticut will pass the Mayflo"er
a, II 90 a m. but owing to- the
slowed down speed and The length
Of the crrai single column %
uarships. the las; ship TO PASS VIII
salute at about O'Clock. The lane
will W. about miles in length. th'
distance from stem to strm ~ cach
cf the - ships being 900 yards. th'
rrcyIa,ion sieaming distance.
Tho Connecticut Will take her an
cborasc position a: ~ O'Clock and
III. entire fleet will bc ready am
drCn anchor on signal from the 'iaS
shin at i:3o.
Pres dent - Receive Commsnoers.
Admiral Spcrry accompanied ~
III. three squadron and division com
uapicrs VI the main flec; and n,
Admiral Arnold commanding the sp''