The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-26
JAP WARSH|PS IN
SAN PEDRO HARBOR
For First Time in Decade YES
sells Flying Rising Sun Flag
Appear There.
J.JICHI'S TRAINING SQUADRON
ON PURELY FRIENDLY VISIT
Commander Expresses the Ad-
miratiOn of His Nation for
America and Americans.

LOS ANGELES, Cal, April 25.-For
the first time in ten years warships
of japan entered a Pacific coast port
of the United States, when the cruisers
Sova and Aso, comprising the Japanese
training squadron commanded by Rear
Admiral IL. Ijich. steamed into San
Pedro at noon today. Not since the
training ships entered the bay of San
Francisco a half score years ago have
vessels flying The flag Of the Rising
Sun been sighted on the western shores
OF this country.
The Aso and Soya dropped anchor at
San Pedro, tho harbor of Los Angeles,
on n peaceful visit of some weeks dura
tion. which will take them TO all of
the principal ports OF the Pacific coast.
The two ships comprising Admiral
IUChi s squadron arc prizes Of the Rus
so-Iapanesc war. The Aso is the former
Russian cruiser Bayan, found in the
harbor of Port Arthur after General
Stocssel surrendered TINT fortress into
the hands of victorious Japanese. The
Soya was formerly the cruiser Narjag,
which was caught III the harbor Of
Chcmulpo Korea, Just before tho break
ing out of the war and sunk by the
japanese fleet Today these craft are
comparatively modern warships. carry
ing heavy batteries and equipped with
high speed engines. Each has single
forward and after turret cightinch;
n broadside battery Of eight six-inch
guns and sixteen of threc-inch cal albrc;
carrying crews Of 500 men each, includ
ing 81 officers and lS5 cadets of the
japanese navy.
Commander War Veteran.
The Aso is the flagship Of Admiral
Iiichi. He is a veteran of the war with
Russia. and commanded the battlcsMp
Mikasa. the flagship of Admiral Togo.
which participated In all the memorable
battles of that war, and on which Adj
miral jestvensky WAS taken prisoner
of WAR after his defcut in the Sea of
Japan. Admiral Ilichi is now a grizzlcd
other visit TO the United. when, in
1850. he visited San Francisco as IL CT
dct on japanese corvette.
''We shall visit Los Angeles, San
Francisco. Seattle aud Victoria. and
possibly other ports. said tho admiral |
''We must return 10 Japan by August
!, and our stay on the shores of the
United States will be brief.
Personally, | can only express my
pleasure at the increased evidence of |
fricndbncss between the United States !
and my country. | have no doubt that |
our visit will be one OF lasting pleasant
remembrance for us. We. of Japan, have
great admiration for America, and / |
am glad os tins opportunity 10 return !
here for even So short a stay
The admiral WAS not prepared to mako |
any formal statement rega riding the oc.
cas'on of the visit Of his ships, further
than 1t was part Of their regular |
cruise.
Although San Pedro was the first
American port touched since the SQUAD. |
ron left UiIo, Hawaii. some ten days !
ago. neither the federal nor state GOV, |
erDmcnt made any special demoustra- |
tlon of welcome. That is reserved for |
San Francisco. and when the ships ar
rive there, about May ], the Pa
cific fleet and federal and state Of.
ficials will extend a more elaborate
greeting.
The government was represented TO.
day by Z. w. Fendleton. collector of the |
Port OF San Pedro, who was accom-
panied by officials from the cities of
Los Angeles and San Pedro
Consul General Makuzo Napai of San
Francisco was a member of the partv
that boarded the Aso shortly after she
came to anchor.
Welcomed by japanese.
feature of the arrival of the
squadron was its reception by rcpreseu.
tatiyes OF the 10000 japanese who live
IN southern California. Hundreds of
japanese journeycd to san Pedro and
four steamers were chartered by them.
and later, with passengers and with the
flags of the United States and Japan
flying fore and aft. steamed to welcome
the war vessels < committee boarded
the Aso and presented to Admiral
lllchi printed address Of welcome. and
upon his arrival. Gifts
Of hundreds of boxes Of oranges. straw.
berries and other fruits were presented
10 the officers and men.