The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-26
RETURN OF
FLEET
FINISHED VOYAGE AROUND
WORLD ON WASHING
TONS BIRTHDAY.
President Tells Admiral Sperry
How Immensely Pleased and
Proud He Is-The Admiral's
Reply-Noisy Welcome at Fort
Monroe.

Monroe.
Fortress Monroe, Va, Feb. o.
mot until some American fleet returns
victorious from great sea fight will
there be another such homecoming,
another such sight as this I drink to
the American navy"
This was the toast of President Roos-
evelt today as he stood radiantly happy
in the cabin Of the little cruiser yacht
Mayfower at the conclusion of the re-
view and the ceremonies attending the
welcome home of the American battle
ship fleet. He was surrounded by the
admirals and captains of the sixteen
world encircling vessels, brilliantly at
tired in all the gold lace and parapher-
MALTA of special full dress uniform.
'We stay -at-homes also drink to the
men who have made US prouder than
ever of our country" added the presi-
dent, and again the toast was pledged
"When the fleet sailed from San
Francisco, Mr.. President" replied
Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry, "you
sent us message that ours was a
heavy responsibility and great honor.
That we have today filled the response
bility makes this the proudest moment
of our lives. I say we advisedly in
speaking of the fleet, for no one man
could have done what has been done
without the loyal and willing co.opera-
ton of every man on the fleet
Thus briefly did the commander Of
the returning ships make his official
report to the commander in-chief of the
army and navy.
To the men and junior officers the
president expressed his appreciation and
the thanks of the country for the pres.
tige which the cruise of the feet had
given to the American navy by MAX
ing visits to the four divisional flag
ships-the Connecticut, the Louisiana,
the Georgia and the Wisconsin.
Given Noisy Welcome
Cannon, bells and factory whistles
added to the din of thousands of
Threats as the great earth girdling bat
tleships swung past the Mayfower to
their anchorages. A drizzling rain
could not dampen the ardor or enthus-
iasm of the multitudes ashore or of the
masses Of spectators clustered on every
conceivable craft afloat.
A dense fog clouded the sea early in
the morning, but later lifted apd
permitted those on shore to obtain
glimpses of black columns of smoke
from more than score of tunnels
which marked the approach of the
greatest armed fleet ever gathered
under the American flag.
| BY 30 a feet of newspaper and
pleasure craft started to meet the May
flower and the fleet.
Before the flagship Connecticut came
within sight of the Mayflower, Rear
Admiral Sperry ordered single column
formation, and this was held until the
review was over.
| Din of Firing
With the first sharp report of the for
ward starboard eight inch rifle of the
Connecticut, din of firing began that
lasted for more than thirty minutes
Even though smokeless powder was
used in the saluting, the slight puffs
from the muzzles Of the rifles raised
a thin haze that partly obscured the
view of the vessels at the end of the
column
As the last ship of the welcome
squadron passed by the Mayflower,
private yachts, press boats and excur-
sion steamers fell in and passed in in
formal review.
Rear Admiral Sperry, his division
officers and the captains of the feet
came aboard the Mayfower shortly
after the fleets anchors we're let go in
the waters of Hampton Roads, and
there were greeted by the president in
the words quoted above.
Itinerary of the Fleet
Left Hampton Roads, December 16,
1897.
Arrived Rio de Janeiro, January 70,
1908.
Punta Arenas, JanuarY 81.
Valparaiso, February IA
Callao, February 20.
Magdalena Bay, March IL.
San Francisco, May 6.
Seattle, May %.
Honolulu, July Is.
Auckland, August 10.
Sydney, August 20.
| MelhOurne Aupnst 90