New-York tribune., 1909-12-23
STRlKEUP THE BAND
JACKIES IRE HOME.
Blucjackcts VII EHjoy a Real
Christmas ashore.

They've taken new way Of looking at
things IN the navy. Up 10 not SO very long
ago they had an officially wise fashion or
believing IL was good for the bIueiackets
and the marines TO pack them of from
home ports just about the time the weather
tegan 70 be tinglish-to cuba or Rio or the
Canaries or the Dardanelles or any other
old place
IL might have been good for the spirit 81
the men TO chase them away 10 some hot
place whore they could have few hours
shore leave 70 be sorry spectators az some
sort OF foreign Fourth Of July or Mardi
Gras. but It made a poor substitute for tho
Christmas OF snow and ice and turkey that
most OF our sailors we're used 10 and with
which they preferred 20 remain contented-
Some person who has ''infoOence' per-
haps. and. AZ any rate, has feeling Of
humanity. seems 70 have figured il out that
while buIlhghts and festas. with flowers
and confetti thrown in. in a sunny land on
or about December % might be all right for
those who were born 10 such things. the or
binary American man-o'-wsrs man won't
Be 80 much the worse. nor the effect on the
navy so bad. II he's humored little and
allowed 70 be near where he'd like 10 he at
this time. which is home.
ANCHOR IN HUDSON.
The change may be only experimental.
but most of the men. officers and plain sail
ors and marines alike, who came into the
harbOr yesterday showed their pleasure az
H. and they weren't above saying they
thought IL would turn out to be such
good thing that when convenient IL would
be continued
There are about ten thousand Of them all
toid-Or AZ least there were when the ad-
vance guard Of the North Atlantic fleet
steamed up the bay yesterday and took
positions I'm the Hudson River. from 18th
street 70 l29th street Last night the num-
Der was considerably less. and IL will drop
by thousands to-day when the first batch
OF men so away on their weeks furlough-
For those who can't get away for Christ
mas there will be chance "a spend the
other big holiday, New Years. at home
with their friends. or at least on American
soil
The ships that came in Yesterday after
IelsureIy but businesslike trip from Hamp-
ton Roads are the ConneCticut. which car
ries the penuant OF the commander OF the
feet Rear Admiral Seton Schroeder; the
Kansas the Vermont. the Missouri the
Wisconsin,. the New Hampshire, the Mime
sofa, the Rhode Island the Nebraska and
the New Jersey.
Early yesterday afternoon they were
sa fely slowed away at anchor along the
Hudson with a choice OF two states 70 look
al and wind frigid enough TO keep even a
sailorman moving, but not trace OF the
snow that many OF the men hoped they
would be able TO see
SIN IN TEN THOUSAND SICK.
Fortunately the men are IN fine fettle for
the good time they expect 10 have. Only
six men of the whole ten thousand were re-
ported being laid UP. and most Of them
were troubled with trihinG things like colds
or throat affections. which made II easy to
have them removed 20 a hospital on shore
in time % get their -ea legs before the big
day
For the men who will not be able 20 30
away for Christmas or who do not care 10
go everything will be done on the fleet 70
make them feel that thev are having a real
Christmas. Already a thousand turkeys
have been ordered bv the cOmmissariat. and
on every ship the day itself there will
be meal with turkey and all the trim
minEs from olives 10 mince pie and plum
pudding and cigars
The feet won't leave this port until Jan
uary 8. and In the mean time. on New Years
DdN al American League Park. the burn
ing question of whether the Nebraska or
the Missouri has the championship team at
American football will be settled for good
and all.
Before he left Hampton Roads Pay In
spectOr r Fl Arms put in a supply OF more
than 500 co in coin OF the Republic. so that
the men will have something 20 take along
With them when they go ashore.
Such Of the men as wish 10 viii ind a
glad greeting al the Sd street branch OF
the Young Mems Christian Association,
which will keen open house for the blue
jackets while the fleet is in port. and those
who live too far from their homes will be
allowed 70 use the flagship Connecticut as
a lodging house.
They re here TO celebrate In the right way.
and they're going 10 do il without worrying
about that ave months hard practice IN
general manRuvres at Guantanamo for
which they are scheduled % depart when
the holly leaves begin TO take on that
curled Up look