Arizona republican., 1909-02-23
President From Mayf|oWeP
 Witnessed Its Approach .A- -s ,s z>~ ~sa. ."
 IN SPLENDID PROCESSION
Meeting of the Chief Execu- tive With the Admirals and Captains, On the May flower-Salutes From Flag ship and Fortress.
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Fortress Monroe, Feb. 22.-Today, with a splendid record of achieve ments and victories of peace behind them, sixteen battleships came home to a welcome and to a ceremonious greeting which could hardly have been more jubilant and sincere if the fleet were returning from some famous bat tie ground. The president addressed not only the officers of the fleet gath cred upon the quarter deck of the Mayflower, but visited four divisional flagships and there addressed the crews in terms of enthusiastic compli- ment.
 The Mayflower had not long lain at anchor when the tracings of smoke on the horizon told of the approach of the fleet, and soon the mast-heads of the Connecticut could be picked up with the glasses through the wide swung Capes. Then the white hull of the famous flagship flashed into view. Out of distance the fleet grew rapidly until at last the end of the white col umn in front could be distinguished
 The grayclad hulks of the escort drew far more slowly above the hori- zon. and served as a splendid demon- stration of the value of a neutral color for naval vessels in time of war
 While the leading ships were still mile distant from the Mayflower, a puff of white smoke from the forward bridge of the Connecticut, followed by a muffled boom as the sound waves followed more slowly the dancing waves of light, served as a signal to all the fleet that the flag ship had made out" the presidents flag on the Mayflower
 The president made his way to the bridge of the Mayflower while the saluting was in progress. He had not long to wait before the imposing line was bearing down upon the re- viewing boat The scene, like that at the departure of the fleet was one which the president probably never will forget.
 The Connecticut and all the ships in her furrowed wake were dressed in cruising fashion for filing in re- view
 Huge American flags stood out in the breeze. Union Jack was a-flutter at each stern. It was not until the ships come to anchor off Old Point pier an hour later that the rainbow dressing lines were strung from stem to stern across the mast heads and the ships took on the full dress which the presence of the president demands when the ships are resting in port and which were hoisted as well today in honor of Washington's birthday.
 r. ed toward the Mayflower, the seven mile line of fighting vessels at her heels. In their natty uniform of blue, the sailors of the Connecticut were manning the sails.
 Passing Fortress Monroe, the presi- dents flag received the army's tri- bute of twenty-one guns. The May flower came to anchor in the center of the flreet. Swift little launches had already been lowered and were darting toward the ships to gather up the commanding officers for a call on the president. Lastly the four ad- mirals of the fleet entered the launch es in which their captains already were seated and the start for the Mayflower was made Admiral Sper- rvs launch was the first to reach the starboard gangway of the presi- dents yacht, and he was ushered aboard with a flare of trumpets and a few strains of a lively march.
 President Roosevelt advanced from his station on the quarter-deck to cor dially grasp Admiral Sperry's hand Then came the captains of the first division, and succeeding the admirals and captains of all the divisions and the ships of the returning fleet. The commanding officers of the auxiliaries Yankton, Culgoa and Panther also came aboard and their greeting was as sincere and cordial as that extended to the flag officers.
 President Roosevelt warmly con- graduated each of the officers per conally and then collectively, as he formarlly thanked them and all off cers and men under them for the parts they had played in making the cruise such a brilliant success. The staff and commanding officers were on the May flower less than half an hour Then the president, accompanied by Ad-