The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-02-24
FLEET RIDES
OUT A STORM
Wind Sweeps Over
Hagfon Roads,
SAIL oRss >fF TO THEIR HOMES
0Hie Are Greeted Warmly In
Richmond.
Admiral Says Some of His best Men
Were KnOwn as "Arrant
Rebels1-Best Smiles
of Women.

Fortress Monroe, Va, Feb. 23.-The
bad weather which greeted the battle
ship feet at the Virginia Capes yes
terday, the worst the sixteen ships
have experienced in any port visited on
their way around the word, continued
today.
Storm signals were hoisted on the
beach and during the afternoon a stiff
southeastern set in. driving singing
rain before 1t. The ships. safely at
anchor. paid little heed to the blow,
but the little white and gray steam
launches running between ships and
shore got much buneting from the
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 the COM
| bined squadrons of Admirals Sperry
and Arnold, stretched away from the
dock, almost as far as the eye could
reach. the gray ships Of the stay-at-
| home feet faded away in the mist and
| rain.
Nearly half Of the ships began coal
| ing today in spite of the weather. All
| of the vessels came In with bunkers
| nearly empty after the long and stormy
run from Gibraltar. 1t Is hoped that
the last Of the ships will have been
coaled by Saturday in order that the
men may parade in Norfolk that day.
| Admiral Sperry. before going to
Richmond today. sent to the Navy De-
partment a series Of reports, having to
do with the cruise. These reports have
been sent In from time to time, and
when completed will form, an official
| history of the entire cruise around the
world. The reports, In addition to re-
lating a narrative of the trip, are filled
| with interesting statistics. They Will
| be of Immense advantage to the Amer
lean naval authorities in showing the
necessities and capabilities Of a feet
| under all manner OF conditions.
The battleship Vermont. of the first
division OF the returning fleet remain
| ed in quarantine today. A case OF
| smallpox developed on board among the
crew. The sick man was taken to the
/ naval hospital at Norfolk, and most OF
/ the officers and members OF the crew
have been vaccinated anew. The men
have been restricted to the ship.
ENLISTED Men Depart.
One OF the most interesting sights
today was the departure of a large
number of enlisted men. whose terms
| of service had expired. They came
ash ore from the various ships in boats
towed by steam launches. Many OF
them had their belongings and souve-
Mrs of the trip slowed away in canvas
| Days WnlIe WcIo Win
natty leather suitcases. The latter
were Invariably plastered all over with
labels from foreign hotels and trans
portation companies The first-class
| liberty men Of the fleet made many
| side excursions from the various ports
| visited and they were also entertained
at the best hotels. Their uniforms
were respected by every nation. On
these visits the men accumulated many
of the travelling labels.
Negro boys and porters lettering
about the dock, reaped a harvest from
the home going sailors, who, disdain-
Ing to carry their own satchels and
bundles, handed them over to the boys
to be taken to the railroad station or
trolley cars.
A number of the sailors who left to-
day were long enlistment men, who
undoubtedly will come back into the
service before three months have
elapsed. They have saved considerable
money on the trip and are anxious to
go home and tell OF thoir experiences
If they re-enlist within ninety days
| they will be rated as having never left
the navy and will receive the increased
pay which comes with every re-enlist-
ment.
A reception rendered in the pictur-
esque Fort Monroe Club by the army
officers, stationed here, to the officers
of the fleet and their wives, was one
of the social events of the day. The
club is in the classmates under the
ramparts of the historic old fortress
and its long porches. built out over the
moat were enclosed in canvas and
American flags.
Tonight there was a ball at The
Chamberlain. Entertaining for the Of
fcers will continue almost necessarily
while the ships are here and the hos
FATALITIES ashore will be returned
aboard ship as soon as coaling and in.
spection days are over.
Lieutenant Commander Ridley Nc
YLane, feet ordnance officer, presided
this afternoon at meeting of ordnance
officers on board the flagship Connect
cut. These officers are meeting con
stantly to exchange views on the work
ing OF the fire control system at the
} last battle target practice in Manila
Bay and it is expected that decided
Improvement in the system will result
from their reports and suggestions
The gunnery work of the navy is 1t!
proudest boast, the officers and men be
lieving that the efficiency at the tar
gets Is superior to that OF any othel
| OaUv