The Mena weekly star., 1909-02-04
IA HEARTY GREETING
AMERICAN BATTLESHlPS MAKE 4 STOP WITH THE ENGLISH
 AT GiBRALTER.
WERE SOME HOURS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Entire Population of British Mediter- reanean Stronghold Out to See Yes sells Enter the Harbor-Relng Sun day No saIutes Were Fired-offi- cials Exchanged Visits.


 Gibralter, Feb, 2.--The first division of the United States Atlantic fleet, composed of the Connecticut, Yer mont, Kansas and Minnesota, under command of Rear Admiral Sperry. ar ,ived here Sunday morning from Vile tranche. Although the arrival lacked
 ae roisy accompaniment of thunder runs, the former exchange of salutes being postponed until Monday in de- terence to the day, the British wei. come was no less hearty and cordial From the moment the glistening white hulls of the American ships were mere speeks upon the blue water of the Mediterranean, every coign of vantage on the Rock of Gibraltar was occupied and by the time they were ready to round majestically into the harbor the entire population seemed to be massed on the waterfront
 The two British battleships Alber- marie and Albion. and the four ships of the second cruiser squadron just returned from South American waters: the Russian battleships Tzarevitch and Slava and the protect ed cruisers Bogatyr and Oleg, the French gunboat Cassini and the Dutch gunboat Haimadal, lying inside the breakwater with sides manned. flags dipping and bands playing greeted the Americans as each in turn entered and was berthed The American bat tIeships responded with flags and mu- sic, the band on board the Connecti- cut playing the national anthem of each country represented. As they passed the tackles aboard the Russian warships uncovered and stood with barred heads while the American Bands rendered God Save the Czar.'
 The official calls began as soon as the visiting ships were moored. Vice Admiral Sir James E c. Goodrich. the admiral, superintendent and com mander of all the naval establish. ments at Gibraltar. although Rear Ad- miral Sperry's senior in rank did not wait for the latter's visit. but imme- diately boarded the Connecticut to extend his greetings. at the same time insisting that the ships of the di- visions due here Monday, as far as possible, anchor in the basin instead of on the Algeciras side as previous ly arranged The senior officers of the foreign wsrships followed suit and later in the day Rear Admiral Sperry returned the calls, going first to Ad- miralty house to repay Vice Admiral Goodrich's courtesy.
 All day launches and shore boats, filled with the curious. churned around the American battleships. the sight seers marveling at their size and com pairing them with the other warships in the harbor. At sundown the Georgia and Nebraska under com mand of Rear Admiral Wainwright. arrived from Tangier. Five colliers and the auxiliaries Panther and Tank ton already are here and the coaling of the first division began Monday.
 Despite the rather unofficial char acter of the visit and Rear Admiral Sperry's disconcerting appearance with his fleet, two days before single division was expected, the English evidently intend to give the Ameri- cans reception they will long re member.
 The program for the reception Of the fleet on It's return to Hampton Roads has been completed It prac tically reyerses the program carried out when the fleet sailed. President Roosevelt on board the Mayiower, an. chored between the Horseshoe and Lynn Haven bay. will review the fleel IS 1t passes in at noon on February 22. Rear Admiral Sperry. the other commanders and executive officers will then go aboard the Mayhower to receive the presidents greetings after which the president in turn vii visit the flagship of each division anc meet the assembled officers and siA representative sailormen seiecteu e..oo, tha divfctop