The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-11
ROADS WILL WELCOME THE
FLOTILDA ON WASHING s
TONS BIRTHDAY.
Noise and Color to Prevail as Re-
turning Battleships Come
Into Port


ships of the great divides place with
thought of the AFRICAN trip, which
otherwise in these last days of the adj
ministrSion might be an allabsorbine
subject Every knot of the way Mr.
Roosevelt has watched the progress
of the fleet, always with pride and
hope mingled, and possibly at times
with some apprehension. The presi-
dent ordered the Ships ON their great
voyage around the, world, and ne has
felt that if anything should happen
to mar the undertaking the American
people would be inclined to hold him
responsible. He has only two weeks
and day or two left in which TO
nope and to worry.
Grand Welcome Arranged.
A great fair was held on the shore
washed by the waters OF Hampton
roads two years ago, but nothing was
seen or done in the Virginia tidewater
region at that time which will equal
that which is, to be seen and done at
| the same place two weeks from next
Monday. All the available ships of the
navy doing work along the Atlantic
coast line will gather at the entrance
to the James river to give a resound-
ing welcome TO their sisters and their
cousin vessels that have beenA under
going voyage Of fourteen months to
show the world that the American
| navy, ship for ship and man for man,
is the equal of any in existence.
The president, the cabinet officers,
several justices of the supreme court,
officials OF both houses OF congress
| officers of the army and of the navy,
and thousands of plain citizens will
be on the Virginia shore to cheer the
incoming ships. Among the expect
ant ones will be the wives, sons and
| daughters OF the sailors who have
been absent from home for a year
and two months. The sailors life is
largely one of separation.
Roosevelt to Great Sperry.
Mr. Roosevelt will go 70 Hampton
roads on the government vessel and
at the first opportunity he will greet
Admiral Sperry, who has been in
command of the fleet from the hour
it left the waters of San Francisco.
The understanding is that naval eti-
quette requires that Admiral Sperry
board the presidents boat, but eti-
quette and precedent may be cast
aside and Mr.. Roosevelt may be seen
at the first opportunity Laundering
up the side of the Connecticut to
| greet and to congratulate the chief
fleet officer on his own deck.
Every room that Fortress Monroe.
Newport News and Norfolk can offer
for the sheltering OF visitors has been
taken for the time set for the fleets
arrival and for the days Immediately
preceding and immediately following
| that event. There will be more wo-
men than men on the shores and
waters of Hampton roads. The wives,
| sisters and sweethearts of the sailors
are to gather from all parts of the
country for the welcome Every Sat-
urday night since the December day
in 1907 when Admiral Evans, on the
Connecticut. led the way past the
capes, and officers have gathered on
each ship and with thoughts on land
have drunk to this toast: Our wives
and sweethearts; may our wives al
ways be our sweethearts and may our
sweethearts be our wives"
Much Noise and Color.
There will be much noise and color
when the Connecticut leads the way
into the roads. Tine feet will be dress
ed with flags and the bands will play
first 1.-THE Star pangled Banner"
then Home, Sweet Home" and then
''The Star-Spangled Banner" again.
| Every house within sight of the sea
| will make brave showing of bunt-
| ing. TIE welcome ships will be dress
ed as are the homecoming ones, and
from the turrets of the vessels gath
cred for the greeting the guns viii
speak in salute ito be answered from
the craft of Sperry's command
The anQent but now modernlzed
stronghold, Fortress Monroe, guards
the western approaches to Chesa-
peake bay and tie broad waters lead
ing to the James river. Time has not
sapped the strength OF the tort fhe
smooth bores of other days have Civ
en- place to rined cannon and the old
| signal torch has dwindled its beams
under the rays OF the electric search
| light Fortress Monroe will fly its
flags February %, and its great guns
will roar peaceably when the ships
come in.
Powerful Guns at Fortress.
In tim. OF peaceful welcome
thoughts OF war perhaps should be
distant, but such is the professional
:nstinc that every army and navy OF
hcer probably will wonder what the
outcome would be if the sixteen great
| fighting craft were on a hostile mis-
sion and it was the duty OF the guns
of Fortress Monroe to keep them
from getting to a place OF vantage
within the waters of Hampton roads
or of Chesapeake bay. There are
great twelve-inch guns hidden behind
the parape, at the fort. Their range
and their accuracy would enable them
TO strike home at every ship that at
tempted TO force passage, but there
will be no projectiles in the rifled can
non of the fort on Washington's
birthday
Township Institute.