Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-25
RICHMOND HOST
TO The fleet
ADMIRAL SPEERY TELLS SOUTH
THAT ITS SONS MAN MANY 5
BATTLESHIPS.

Richmond, Va, Feb. "a. = Graceful
homage was paid by the south yester-
day to the globe girdling American
battleship fleet in this old capital of
the confederacy.
1--WE welcome you to the hearts of a
people who yield to no one in devotion
to the American navy nor in loyalty
to our flag"
This sentiment feelingly expressed
at a lun cheon in Jefferson hotel yes
terday afternoon by Mayor Richardson
in welcoming Rear Admiral Sperry,
Rear Admiral Wainwright and fifty
four officers under the formers COM
mand to this city, found echo in the
words of gallant Sperry, who said:
"On the worlds cruise have had
about me a splendid corps Of officers.
In my personal staff of seven men, six
of them are commonly known in the
ships as 'arrant' rebels. Georgia,
Florida, South Carolina, all are repres-
ented among my personal aids, while
my own state of Connecticut is left
out entirely. With these men at the
wheel is it any wonder that we have
got here and have got here on. time ?"
Sperry Tells Trips Lessons.
Rear Admiral Sperry pointed out
| that the voyage around the world was
no junket While we have been en-
circling the globe" he said, ''we have
doubled the score of last years target
practice. The fleets efficiency has in
creased 25 per cent by economq of
coal consumption. due to hard and
| faithful work Of the men below decks.
| When contest comes a navy must
| know how to get there and how to stay
there when it gets there.
Now that the world is governed by
the people it is not sufficient that a
solitary arbitrary ruler should know
on paper the possibilities of contest
And since the people generally are
only impressed by what they see, it is
necessary, if you desire the peace OF
the world that you show your feet >
The bad weather which greeted the
batt1eship fleet Monday, the worst
they have experienced in any port Wis
/ tied, continued yesterday. During the
afternoon stiff southeastern set in
driving a stinging rain before it..
Ships are Being CoaIed.
Hampton Roads seemed fairly
choked with fighting craft yesterday
/ The two long lines of the combined
squadrons of Rear Admirals Sperry
and Arnold stretched away from the
dock as far as the eye could reach
Nearly half Of the ships began coaline
in spite Of the weather.
1t is hoped that the last of the ships
will have been coaled by Saturday ir
order that the men may parade ir
Norfolk on that day. They will be tht
city's guests. This will be the4 frs
shore leave the men will have. They
are being kept aboard ship now II
anticipation of an inspection of eacf
ship by Rear Admiral Sperry and al
inspection board.
The battleship Vermont was In quar-
antine yesterday A case of smallpo,
developed on board. The sick man was
taken to the naval hospital at Norfoll
; and most of the officers and member
Of the ere whaye been vaccinatet
anew. The men have been restricted
to the ship.
| One of the most interesting sight
yesterday was the departure Of larg
number Of enlisted men, whose term
of service had expired. AS they lef
the sides Of the vessels, they were Civ
en- lusty cheers by the sailors. Negr
boys and porters lettering about tn
dock reaped harvest from the hom
J going sailors. who, disdaining to carr,
their own satchels and bundles, hand
: ed them over to the boys to be takel
to the railroad station or trolley cars