New-York tribune., 1909-01-27
SHIPS ARE CONVERGlNG
FLEET TO MEET SUNDN-
Viii Coal at Tstuan Bay-Four,Tes.
sells to Visit Gibraltar.

Nice. Jan 26-The sixteen battIeships Of N.
American fleet will be ploughing the Mediterransan
westward Thursday. headed for Tetuaa1 Bav A.,
the north coast Of Morocco. where they will r,a..
semble Sunday to coal and provision for m.
homeward journey.
The division under Rear Admiral ssat,-
Schroeder. composed OF the Missouri. the Ohio N.
Louisiana and the Virginia, has already I.r,
Smyrna The Georgia and the Nebraska part :,
the second division, Rear Admiral Richard wat-
wright in command. sailed to-day from Marsealle.
for Tangsr under instructions to salute the nax
of the new Sultan Of Morocco. The other two
batteshiPs Of this division. the New Jersey ana
the Rhode Island. will weigh anchor to-Hnorrow
The first division of the feet, made up OF Raa.
Admiral SperTy's flagship. the Connecticut and ths
Kansas the Minnesota and the Vermont now az
VilIefranche. will steam out Of that port tounorrozv
and Thursday the fourth division under RAar
Admiral William P. Porter, composed OF the wi.-
consin. the Illinois. the Kearsarge and the Ken
lucky. will take their departure from Algiers This
division will be preceded by the Panther and IN.
Ajax and Is due at Tetuan Bay on Saturday tn.
Yankton, a naval tender which has been doing
duty at various places, Will bring Up the rear
After ooaling at Tetuan Bay the Yankton win
proceed Independently by more southeriy rou+s
than the rest OF the feet. going by way Of ths
Azores and Bermuda. in order to avoid bad
weather. She will arrive atsHampton Roads day
ahead of the fleet
The officers and men OF the first and second H.
visions leaving the French ports with genuins
regret. They have greatly enjoyed their visit and
the weather has been superb throughout The at
fractions have been numerous and various, but
what has pleased the Americans most was tha
freedom from official functions and ceremoniaIA
which largely monopoliZed their time in Australia
and Japan. This has been their first real holiday
they say, since they started the voyage around
the world Lieutenant Commander F. l. Chaplin
the American naval attach6 at Paris. and Lieu
tenant Command Reginald R BeIknap ths
naval attachs az Berlin. will accompany the Aess
to Gibraltar
1t the original intention 70 have the feet
reassemble at Negro Bay. but - vas finally ds-
cided coal Tetuan Bay because OF the greater
depth Of and the better bottom The arst
division. under the immediate command OF Rssr
Admiral Sperry. VIII be the first to coal and will
then proceed to Gibraltar to exchange courtesies
with the British feet. The other twelve American
battleshIps will not to Gibraltar. but viii re-
Join the flagship in the strait for the dnaI lap
across the Atlantic.
Henry White. the American Ambassador gave
luncheon at the Casino here to-day in honor Of the
officers OF the rst division Of the American battle
ship feet Many prominent Frenchmen. including
Leon Bourgeois. formerly Premier and Minister Of
Foreign Affairs; Prefect Jolly. and the Mayor Of
Nice were present Toasts drunk to President
FaIlieres and President Roosevelt.
Ambassador White thanked the French govern.
ment for the cordial welcome extended to ths
American battleships. saying II would serve to
tighten the bonds OF friendliness between France
and America Admiral Sperry. commander IN chief
OF the feet spoke in a similar vein and addeds
The United statas wishes peace. but the best
guarantee Of peace IS effective navy" Prefees
Jolly paid glowing tribute 10 the American navy,
saying that the vessels In the Nice harbo= looked
II they tst starting instead OF ending thss
round the world voyage.
A number OF young Frerchnsn, including q
priest. attracted by the fine appearance OF tha
American ships and by the contented manner %
the sailors called al the American Consulate hers
to-day and offered to enlist. but told they
were ineligible
AIgiers Jan 2-Ths Mayor and councillors os
Algiers srrayed In their insignia OF oace- gave .
reception to-day TO Rear Admiral Potter. cons
mander or ths fourth division OF the ATnertcaa
feet and the other American officers al the City
Hall The decorations were flowers, eversreens 8
and sheaves Of American and French flags Al
the generals now in Alzters. Admiral Araso, the
representative of the French government. and q