Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-01

IBRALTAR, Jan. 31-The first
eT division of the United States At
VI lantic fleet, composed of the Con-
necticut, Vermont, Kansas and Mime
sofa, under command of Rear Admiral
Sperry, arrived here this morning from
Villefranche.
From the moment the glistening
white hulls of the American ships were
mere Specks on the blue water of the
Mediterranean, every point of vantage
on the rock of Gibraltar was occupied
by the population.
Two British battleships, the Albe-
marie and the Albion, and the four
.ips of the second squadron, of cruis-
ers, just returned from South American
waters; the Russian battleships Tsare-
witch and Slava, and the protected
cruisers Bogatyr and Oleg, the French
gunbOat Cassine and the Dutch gun
boat Heimadal, lying inside the break
water with sides manned, flags dipping
and bands playing, greeted the Ameri-
cans as each in turn entered and was
berthed.
The American battleships responded
with music, the band on the COnnecti-
cut playing the national anthem Of
each country.
Russians Bare Heads
AS they passed the jackies aboard the
Russian warShips uncovered and stood
with barred heads while the American
bands rendered "God Save the Gar
Vice Admiral Sir James E. Goodrich,
the admiral commander of all the naval
establishments at Gibraltar, although
Rear Admiral Sperry's senior in rank,
did not wait for the latter's visit, but
Immediately boarded the Connecticut
to extend his greetings, at the same
time insisting that the ships of the
divisions due here tomorrow as far as
possible anchor in the basin instead of
on the Algeciras side, as previously
arranged.
The senior officers of the warships
followed suit and later in the day Rear
Admiral Sperry returned the calls, 60
ing first to Admiralty house to repay
Vice Admiral Goodrich's courtesy.
At sundown the Georgia and Nebras-
ka, under command of Rear Admiral
Wainwright, arrived from Tangier.
Five colliers and the YanktOn are al
ready here and the coaling of the first
division will begin tomorrow.
Big Program Prepared
Besides entertainments for the men
to be given by the military governor,
such as athletics, dinners and parties
ashore and ahoat for the officers, the
functions will include a dinner to be
given by the military governor, Gen
eraI Sir Frederick Forester-Walk
which will be followed by a ball at the
assembly rooms arranged by Rich
ard L .Sprague, the American consul;
there also will be a big gymnastic
tournament, in which the American Of
ficers are expected to participate as
competitors.
The arrangement for the reception to
the fleet on its return to Hampton
Roads has been completed. 1t practic-
ally reverses the program carried out
when the fleet sailed
President Roosevelt, on board the
May1ower, anchored between the
Horseshoe and Lynnhaven bay will
review the fleet as it passes in at noon,
February %.
Rear Admiral Sperry, the other COM
manders and executive officers, will
then go aboard the Mayf1ower to re-
ceive the presidents greetings, after
which the president in turn will visit
the flagship Of each division and meet
the assembled officers and six repre-
sentative sailor men selected from the
division.
The Yankton will leave here for
Hampton Roads tomorrow
The former sultan of Morocco, Abd-el
Aziz, passed the night on board the
Georgia. Tt was the first time he was
ever aboard a warship, and his child
ish delight was amusing. The work.
ing of the guns was explained to him
through interpreters.