The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-02-15
Royal Welcome is Extended
Sailors afAll Points
Touched.
BENEFIT TO THE NAVY
Willsbe Great and Impression
on Foreign Powers is One
Of Deep Effect.

10
OLD POINT COMFORT. Va. Feb.
Half way across the Atlantic
ocean on the last long reach of their
spectacular cruise around the world,
the sixteen battleships Of the Unit
ga States Fleet" are steaming today in
leisurely fashion towards the anchor
age grounds of Hampton Roads from
whence they sailed just fourteen
months ago. During these months of
record steaming the heavily armored
iigllting vessels have Travelled approx
irnately $1,000 miles and are return
ipg in condition still fit for "a frolic,
ora fight The cruise has been a.
yeritable expedition OF the seven seas
and tasks heretofore deemed impos-
sible for the modern ironclad have
been accomplished with an ease bor-
dering on the commonplace.
The stories of the, cruise have been
succeeding chapters of Perceptions. ban
quets balls and nerrymaking. but
back Of all this relaxation and enter
taining In the hospitable ports of the
two. hemispheres has been test of
men and material which has placed
the American navy in an enviable DO.
sltion before all the world. The en-
e gine room efficiency in the longer lugs
ot the Journey developing a new and
unexpectedly wide steaming radius for
hattleshtp; the facility in following
the motions of the flagship in the fleet.
squadron and divisional manuvers
which came with constant experience
sea and above all the marvellous
G records made al the targets in Magda-
lena and Manila Bays tell of the real
work and the substantial accomplish.
ments that have marked this most
notable OF peace demonstrations
among the navies of the world.
The previously arranged schedule of
the Journeys from port to port had
y been adhered to in remarkable man.
ner except in two instances when vio-
lent storms made full speed too dam
gerous and uncomfortable. To Offset
these lapses from punctuallty the fleet,
has made some of its longest runs
two whole days ahead of time. None
of the undertakings imposed upon the
ships or the men has been too diff
cult The cruise. however, was not in
augurated without serious misgivings
at home and abroad.
That the experience gained ON ths
cruise will be of unending benefit to
the Navy is indicated from the fact
that probably one-half Of the entire
personnel Of the naval establishment
participated in the epoch-making trip,
Three of the sixteen captains who
sailed in command OF vessels are re-
turning home as rear-admirals,
Eight other captains are returning in
command of the same ships on which
they began the journey of the world.
From rear-admiral down to midshin-
man the training has been such as MOI
other naval cruise ever offered.
Among the enlisted men the training
has been even more valuable. Lands
men shipped just before the start and
utterly green in the way OF the deep.
are coming home an integral part of n
wonderful fleet efficiency and loyaI he.
levers in all that the American navy
stands for. Desertlons on the shin
have been few The mon have taken
pride in the cruise and It wnI ba
constant boast with them that they
started to the west from I4amntonI
Roads and came home with prows still,
turned N that direction They know
the world Is round, and they know,
What 1t is to work and play over as
700 miles OF the watered surface of
the globe. "
Even the last leg of the famops
journey is to be given over to work
There will be daily drills and maneny.
ers and inspection by the commander
IN chief Of every vessel on the wav
oSeT. President Roosevelt viii greet
tne Meet on February %, from the
bridge OF the Mayfiower at the no,nt
from which he bade farewell four,oen
months ago '''>'
There win be two strangers in the
heet when It reaches here-4be Va
braska and the Wisconsin, both pa.
ciitc-buiIt' which replaced the Maine
and Alabama. detached at san F,r.ns
cisco, and sent home in advance M
Maine viii be the flagship OF the vel
coming squadron.
The composition of the Meet as Il
returns is as follows:
First SQUADRON. first division, Rear
Admiral Charles s. sperry, commap-
def-ln-chief.
connecticat lflagshipl, Capt. Huso