The Washington times., 1909-02-22
FLEET TUGS LAZILY
At ANCHOR CHAINS
Ships Apparently Proud of
ThunderouS Welcome Ac-
corded Them.
THOUSANDS WILD
WITH ENTHUSIASM
Triumphal Procession Was Big
Vessels Last Lap in Famous
World Cruise.

FORT MONROE, Va, Feb. 22.-The
great American battle fleet is again at
home. formally greeted as it entered
Hampton Roads by the President, the
Secretary of the Navy, and a distin-
guisbed party aboard the Mayfiower,
with all the elaborate pomp and cir
cuRstance that the regulations could
produce
Wildly cheered by enthusiastic thou
sands of men. women, and children,
packed aboard all sorts and conditions
Of water craft gaily decorated for the
occasion and hoarsely welcomed by the
shrek OF whistles from steam vessels
and industries in the vicinity, the six
teen magnificent warships, with their
Homecoming" pennants flying. jaunti-
u pushed along a channel, only kept
clear with great difficulty by torpedo
boats, and extending a distance of over
eight miles, from the tail Of the horse
shoe to the anchorage in front of the
Chamberlin, where countless other
hundreds of excited humanity, mainly
wives, relatives, and friends of the 15-
30 home corners. were banked in solid
phalanX. and held in rapt attention by
the spectacle
are tugging lazily at their chains at
The anchorage they left over a year ago,
seemingly content to receive the plaud-
It's OF the nation for their record brea k
!ng girdllng Of the globe, but not dis
Interested in the visit paid them by the
Chief Executive to tender personal
greetings at their great accomplish
ment.
SPick and Span. "
Spick and span. as ready now as a
year ago for "a fight or a frolic," the
ships swing in the great naval play
water lines have narrowed so that
there is being enacted a veritabIe lzaleido-
scope Of color from the circling pleasure
boats. It was a wonderous and thUn-
3erous welcome given the feet, when
HE Connecticut. the flagship Of Admiral
sperry, sighted the Mayiower. which
had taken its anchorage at the exact
spot from which the President had bid
the ships farewell on their outward
royage. A salute began that didn't end
until the last ship had passed the Pres
dents boat.
Twenty-one guns fred from each one
bf the sixteen ships. and 50 timed that
before one ship ceased firing, another
look up the salute, fairly making the
heavens roar, but above and beyond
came the thunderings from the big
squadron that steamed out 10 act as
an escort Of honor until near the spot
Tor the formal reception.
II was an impressive sight that warm
Fd the cookies OF many another heart
lhan that of President Roosevelt who
viewed tire ships with a critical but
pleased eye, as the long line steamed
gracefully by. 1t was a marine spectacle
hat will live long in the memory Of al
Tho witnessed it. Before each shiI
leared the MayfiOwer, but while the
tuns were sending forth their discOrd
Int but pleasing greeting, the rails were
manned by the bluejackets. who STOOD
side BIZ side, each one, with his hand
resting upon the shoulder Of his com
9anion and facing the Presidents boat
The officers paraded in special full dres!
and the marine guard that may appea
no more on battleships unless Congress
lCgislates to remove the existing depalt
mental order, presented arms, while tn,
band played the national air