Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-24
MEN ARE AWAITING INSPECTION
No Extensive Shore Leave Until
Each Ships Company Looked Over
BY Admiral Sperry and a Board
Vermont Is in Ouarantine-Sueees
sion Of Social Events.
(Ry Associated PreSS.)

bad weather which greeted the bal
,leship fleet at the Virginia capcs yes
tcrdav. the worst tn" sixteen SHIPS
have experienced IN any port. visited
on their way around the world. con
t,nuci today. Storm Si"nais were
hOiSted on the beach aid during the
afternoon 4 stiff sou; h"a.tcr set in
driving 4 singing rain bcior" IT, Inc
shirs. safely n anChCr, raid Nt'ie
heed to the blow. buy tn" it'll" whl'e
and grey steam launches running be-
tween ship and snor" go; quite
huffpting from both the wini ana
waves.
That part of the roadstead running
west from the Old Point pier seemed
fairly choked with fighting craft to-
day.
The two long lines OF combined
suuadrons of Adnirals Sperry ana
Arnold stretched away from the dock
alOmts as far as the eye could reach,
the gray ships of the stay-at-home
fleet fading away in the rain ana
mist which overspread the entire
hartOr
Ships Snug and Tight.
The ships were made snug and
| tight for the storm and only small
| American cEs gn at the after Tag
| staff and the officers flags at the
peaks were to be seen in place O!
| the rainbow steamers which rrs'cE-
! dav clothed the vessels in gala at
tire. Nearly one half OF the ships
logan coaling today in spite OF the
| weather.
! All of the vessels came in with bunk
crs nearly empty after the long run
from Gibraltar. 1t is hoped that the
last Of the ships will have been coal
ed by Saturday in order that the men
NAV parade in the city Of Norfolk
on that day.
| A committee from Norfolk visited
the flagship Connecticut today to ex-
/ tend an invitation to the men OF the
/ fleet to be the city's guests on Sat
| Yriay. but Admiral Sperry. in com
| pauv with !ifty-four officers. had gone
| to Richmond to attend luncheon
and did not return until late inns
afternoon. II is though that the Nor
folk invitation will be accepted. now
ever. and that several thousand men
| will be sent there to parade and to
be entertained by the people.
| This will be the first shore leave
he men will have.
Men Awaiting Inspection.
They are being kept aboard ship
now in anticipation of an inspection
of each ship ty Admiral Sperry and
AIN inspection board from among the
Officers of the fleet.
Admiral Sporry will leave for Wash
instou Fridav night and whether OF
not the INSPECTION is to occur mere
will I,s determined after the return
Of the admiral.
Admiral Sperry. before leaving fo'
Richmond today. sent series OF re
ports having 10 do with the cruise
to the navy department. These re
uorts have teen sent in from time
to time. and when completed. viii
form an official history of the entire
cruise around the world. The rcpori
| in addition to relating a narrative OF
! the trip. are flied with interesting
Statistics
They will 10 OF Immense advantage
TO thu, American naval authorizes W
showing the necessities and Capabih
tiles Of fleet under al! manner ~
conditions.
One Of the most interesting S'Sh''
was the dcpartur" Of a large numi"'
Of enlisted men whose terms OF en-
Iistment hal expired. They came
aehcrc from tn" various ships IN
fnas towed by steam launches.
As :hcy left the side Of the vessels
ON which the had served. tn" d."
uartipp mrn had given lustv cheers
hv the sailors. Still attir"d in thri'
sailor toys. tho men reached IN" GOV
eminent dock loaded down with al
manner of lrggage Nanv Of them
had their belongings and Souvenirs 81
he long srip slowed away in canvas
bags while others w"rc equipped
with FATTY I"sihcr snii cases.
Many Will Re-eniis'.
| nun or 90 'kr sailors who I"t'
,mjay vcr, ~ enlistment m"n wh'
undoubtedly will return 10 th'
service before ihr"" months haV'
elapsed They have saved Consid"ra
HE money On tho trip and arc anXi"n
Z. 60 homo aud toll ~ their cxP"rl
cnccs. n tbrv re-"nlis' within min"
y days the will b. rated as naTins
never left the nav. and will receive