Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-27
CHEERED By THOUSANDS
Jackies From Fourteen Battleships
in Line of March.
FEASTED AFTER THE REVIEW
Rhode Island Sails for New York.
Two Others to Weigh Anchor
Tonight.

NUM- olLh, Nd's COi -s.-A>oi iS't>
paid homecoming tribute to 1900 officers
and blue jackets from the American bat
tie fleet today. With flaring trouser ends
snugly reefed down in canvas leggings,
with jaunty white caps setting off the
deep blue Of their service uniforms and
with rifles slung across their shoulders.
the men from the fleet paraded through
the principal streets of the city and were
received with cheers by practically all of
Norfolk's population. Main street was so
crowded in places that barely room
enough was left for the sailors to pass.
Thirty-two companies in all were landed
from the fleet this morning at the Old
Point Comfort dock and transported to
this city on steamers chartered by the
local entertainment committee. They
were accompanied by eight companies of
Coast Artillery from Fort Monroe and
were met by several companies Of marines
and blue Jackets from the Norfolk navy
yard.
Cheered by Admiring Throngs.
Swinging out of Brooke avenue into
CRANKY and thence into Main. the men of
the fleet passed through admiring throngs
who in their eagerness to observe the
DlUSJdChclS WIN Ilou SuSh q s,iSo~ S''>>'S
I'm the successful cruise Of the sixteen
American battleships around the world
forgot all but the first spontaneous cheer
of welcome until one of the ship bands
came along playing Dixie Then the
crowds broke into a tumultuous tribute
which was caught up all the way down
the line The men from the Virginia re-
ceived veritabIe ovation.
The bluejackets from the home station
also received lions share of the ap-
plause along the line of march. Detach-
ments of the Virginia National Guard
were also in the parade. which was one
Of the most picturesque and interesting
martial pageants ever seen here
Blue and Gray Gordon Of Honor.
In traversing Main street the sailors
and their escort passed through Gordon
OF honor In front of the reviewing stand
composed Of hundreds of veterans of both
the Union and Confederate armies. Ad-
mirai E. d. Taussig. coWmandant of the
Norfolk navy yard, reviewed the parade
and was saluted by all of the men in
passing.
The bluejackets made a, splendid show
ing in spite Of their long stay on board
ship 1t was the first time they had ap-
peared in companies ashore In some
months, but their marching compared
most favorably with that OF the army
representatives. The youthful appear
ance of the sailors elected much COM
ment and their bearing throughout was
in itself splendid tribute to the enlisted
personnel of the navy of today.
Fourteen OF the sixteen ships that en-
circled the globe furnished the bluetack-
cts for today's parade. The men from
the Connecticut. Admiral Sperry's nag
ship. had the right of line and inme-
cort The white caps of the bluejack-
cts could be distinguished from afar and
long before they actually appeared their
coming was heralded Nearly every per-
son on the crowded streets and side
walks held a flag. and these were waved
in greeting. The city was decorated as
seldom before in it's history. The crowd
of onlookers spread from the streets to
the windows and roofs of buildings along
the line of march, and business was SuS
pended throughout the forenoon and un-
til the sailors left again for their ships
late in the day.
Luncheon and Feast.
Following the parade the officers were
entertained at an elaborate luncheon at
the Monticello Hotel, while the 1000 blue
jackets were given a feast at the new
naval Y M. c. A. building, constructed
with money donated by John D. Rookie
feller This new home for the sailors
entering Norfolk is one of the most COM
plete ana SpleUuld cluDS ever plONIueu
for the enlisted men of the navy any
where.
The battleship Rhode Island left the
feet today and sailed for New York.
where the big white vessel is due to ar
rive Sunday afternoon.
The New Jersey and Kansas probably
will get away tonight. The New Jersey
will touch at New York to land some am
munition at TOmpkinsville before pro-
ceeding to her home station at Boston.
The Kansas goes to Philadelphia.
Pleasure Mixed With Chagrin.
TOXIC, February 27.-Special cable
grams saying that the American navy was
contributing toward q loving cup for the
Japanese navy were received here with
much pleasure. simultaneously a Reuter-
dispatch stating that the California sem
ate had voted almost unanimously in ia
vor Of excluding all Asiatics caused gen.
eral chagrin.