The Washington times., 1909-02-22
BIG GUNS ROAR OUT
AS FLEET GETS HOME
Returning Wanderers, Conveyed by Rear Admiral
AnoId's Ships, Steam in Review Past Pres-
dent on the Mayfower.

NORFOLK. Va. Feb. 1.-THE PAIN
} Otto enthusiasm Of the day reached its
/ height when over the waters of Hamp-
( son Roads Numbered the sound OF tic
/ first gun of the salute. begun by tine
/ Connecticut as she swung 10y The May
flowers quarter From Theodore
Roosevelt, COmmandcr-in-Cuief Who
/ had seen the ships steam out of The
same historic waters for "a fight or a
/ frouc" fourteen months before, 10 the
/ cXpoctant maiden who had come to We
I come some boy i'm blue The moment
was filled with a meaning Tor an
Scarcely had the Connecticut doomed
/ the national salute Of tWeuty-Cuc guns
. half through when the Kansas. next ina
/ line. picked up the noisy tribute 10 The
/ nations head The AIinnesota's guns
/ belched next, then the Ncrmouts, then
/ those Of the Georgia. the first ship Of the
/ second division TO steam slowly by; then
. on down the line until every vessel.
/ large OF small. by laundering cannon or
whistle blast. was paying homage to the
flag, 10 the feet. 10 home, and 10 The
unbOunded AmeriCanism Of II all
Over Fifteen Shores.
Since the fleet left home the echo Of
it's guns has sounded over fifteen for
cign shores; their deep tones Of friend
snip or defiance, for # meant both, had
been heard by many ii ruler and dig
urary oil other lands; the officers, the
men. had been reted ana made welcome
vet. there was not a mau aboard the
returning wanderers who would have
exchanged it all for the one assurance
that now had COme-home.
central fCurc i'm the panoramic view
OF armament: gray steel sides, pleasure
craft, respondent naval dress the solid
lines of blue athwart every deck; stood
President Roosevelt, aboard the May
flower. Ills had been the daring and his
the reason for commanding the UNI
pTeCeGeuted cruise that ended so aus
piciousIy and happily today. They were
back, these bulldogs OF the deep that
had told their story of pTOWess To q
world. The navy critic was forgotten.
the lingo. if ne were present. was los,
in the thousands that lined every point
Of vantage and who had come 10 honor
and not 10 derido, the conservative who
had doubted the wisdom of it a year
ago, gave way to cXhuberance of
il all and turned his eyes happily to-
ward those OF the Chief Executive. who
stood a picture OF uurestrained appreci.
before the eyes Of himself and the
greatest thrcnS which ever assembled
Ia honor "A similar expedition.
President Alert.
The President and Secretary New
berry were the first TO sight and wei
come II this morning Before 10 o'clock
from the Navfower'~ deck could he
seen an advancing column Of smoke
1 rising over Cape Charles. j. was from
/ the Connecticut, vending her triumph
ant way. All was excitement on water
and on shore. From the decks OF the
Presidents yacht and from those OF the
smallest hired launch were uplifteo
thousands of field glasses on shore
from Cape Henry 70 far below Ole
Point Comfort. were countless others
unable TO obtain places upon a water
craft, but determined % do their shares
toward the welcome Mothers wives
Swpp1heartS. fathers. and sons were
4 there-cvery eve turned toward the
. T caDcs, where. swinging maJesticaNy into
? view. was the fleet which had accom-
- pIished the most remarkable journey IN
the history of All uaElCS-
p There came the boom or cannon "A
Fort Monroe. the screCch OF Whistles IT
. every poT. ATOMS s4peahe Day lH'
2 waving of tags- the hum OF excite,
. conversation grew in EOIumC-tHc mo
p ment to which America had cooked for
S ward for more than q year had arrived
Joy Of Occasion.
p Event the Presidential party. arcus
3 toned more. perhaps. 10 patriotic dis
plays. gave way to the Joy OF the occa
sion An knew what the moment mean
to Theodore Roosevelt who was round
ing on. his Administration 10y rcaliziu.
, the accomplishment of one Of th'