Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22
Continued from First PaseD

Ing squadrOns was sought by thousands.
A. cape Henry and all along the Lynn
haven and Willoughby shores great
IhronSs were gathered. On this opposite
shore of the rnadStead, the crowd was
denseSt here at Old Point. The ram
paris of For; Monroe were black with
spectators. and wherever place could
lie found along the water front the eager
onlookers were gathered
The battleships picked up their regular
cruising speed of ten knots an hour early
this morning. after night of compare
tive rest. Brass work was polished to
degree OF uneIualed briliance, and
wherever paint W ork had been married on
tie journey home fresh coats of white
and buff. applied to sides and super
structure dur'hs yesterdays wait off the
capes, made the ships as immacul
in appearance as they were on that
beautiful day in December 1907. when
they sailed away cruise that was
tn set new mark for the navies of the
world TO strive to attain.
President on the Mayfower.
When the battIeships pointed their
prows at daylight for the gateway of the
and his party on board. was steaming
down Chesapeake bay to the anchoragee
ground. at the Tail of the Horseshoe a
channel way leading around ThimblS
shoals. where fourteen months ago the
President had stood on the bridge of the
same trim little vessel to review the out
going fleet and bid il Godspeed on its
epoch king journey.
On that occa sion the President said the
sailing of the fleet meant simply the send
ing of a homogeneous body of warshipS
on an extended practice cruise. 1t was a
matter of ordinary duty he declared.
While he was present to witness the sail
ing in his capacity as COMMUNICATIVE chief
of the army and navy. he did not con-
slider the event one of sufficient impor-
tanCe to require a speech or other special
ceremony.
Today. with their splendid record of
achievements and victoriesof peace be-
hind them. the sixteen battleships came
home to a welcome and to a tremendous
greeting which could hardly have been
more jublant and sincere if the fleet were
returning victorious from some famous
battle-ground. The President addressed
not only the officers of the fleet gathered
upon the quarterback of the Mayf1ower.
but lie visited we'll the four divisional
faSships and there he addressed the
crews in terms of enthusiastic compile
ment.
As it was impossible for Mr.. Roosevelt
TO visit each of the sixteen returning YES
sells. representatives of the men from each
ship i'm the four divisions were gathered
upon the flagshps. They In turn took the
Presidents greetings to their shipmates.
The Mayfower had not long lain at
anchor when the tracings OF smoke on the
horizon told of the approach of the feet.
Within little while thereafter the mast
heads of the Connecticut could be picked
up with glasses through the wide swung
capes.
Fleet Comes Into View.
Then the white hull of the famous flag
ship flashed into view. Out of the dis
lance the fleet grew rapidly until at last
the end Of the white column in front
could be distin guished.
The gray-ciad vessels of the escort grew
far more slowly above the horizon and
served as splendid demonstration of the
value of neutral color for naval vessels
I'm time of war. Many officers of the
navy are sorry that after this splendid
cruise around the world the American
navy is to lose its distinctive color of
white and buff and to fade into the dingy
gray which characteriZes the navies of
the world.
White paint is expensive. however, and
must be constantly looked after. So, with
their forthcoming visits TO the navy yards
along the coast. the famous sixteen bat
tleships will all be TRANSFORMED from
dazzling ships of white to grim gray spec
ters of the sea.
mile or more distant from the Mayhower
pun of white smoke from the forward
bridge of the Connecticut. followed by
muffied boom as the sound waves follow
ed more slowly the dancing waves of
light, served as signal TO all the fleet
that the flagship had made out the
Presidents flag on the Mayflower
1t was also the signal of home at last.
1t made the hearts Of 14.C0O men and 600
officers beat quicker in realization that
tic day that they have looked forward to
thTouhg all the days of lavish hospitality
abroad at last had arrived.
That first gun of the ConnecticutS ma
tiunal salute TO the President found every
ship in the line with salutns cannon
ready. The second powder puff from the
flagship had not sounded when the guns
Of all the other ships had begun to speak
in unison the honors due the chief eXecu-
tive
The fleet was almost lost to view as the
saluting was at its height. But the clear
ing veil of smoke flashed the ships into
view in a far more brilliant picture than
lad been the first glimpse far down on the
orizon.
President on the Bridge.
The President made his way to the
bridge of the Mayfiower while the salut-
ing was in progress. He had not long
10 wait before the imposing line was
bearing right down upon the reviewing
boat
The scene, like that at the departure of
the fleet one which the President
probably never will forget. II set nerves
tnslins with patriotic pride. for there
Is more inspiring sight than d long
column Of Nelt-drilled lighting ships.
On either side OF the incoming armada
were gathered scores of excursion steam
"rS, which grew constantly thicker and
thicker as the warships ploughed their
way TO a home anchorage. The excursion
keeping up continuing roar of salutes
from their vari-toned whistles, and the
crowds aboard as well as the throngs
ashore were cheering In ii chorus which
carried its welcome home far across the
waters TO ears that had not heard so
sweet sound in all their 1900 miles
of cruising through the seven seas of the
world
The Connecticut and all the ships in her
furrowed wake were dressed in cruising
fashion for filing In review. At each
masthead of the succeeding ships huge
American flags stood out in the breeze
The Union Jack aflutter at each
stem. Streaming flags were in place at
every lofty gan.
IL not until the ships had come to
anchor off the Old Point pier. two hours
later. that the rainbow dressing lines
were strung from stem to stern across
the mastheads, and the ships took on the
full dress which the presence of the