Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-23

In the. wake of the Connecticut with
only 400 yards separating her BOWS
from that Of the flagship came the
Kansas AS she passed the same cere-
monies set by the flagship were fol-
lowed. The Minnesota and Vermont
in turn, all sisters to the Connecticut,
completed the passing of the first d.
vision. The Vermont in addition to
her other flags. flew at the fore the
battle trophy won last fall at the tar
gets in Manila bay.
Eight hundred yards separated the
first and second divisions. AS Rear
Admiral Sperry, commander chief
of the fleet. had stood upon the after
bridge of the Connecticut, so stood
Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright up
on the after bridge of the Georgia. flag
ship of the second division, which IN
cluded also the battleships Nebraska,
New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Following the second division which
completed the first squadron came the
second squadron, composed Of the third
and fourth divisions. The second squad
ron and third division are commanded
bv Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder, VINO
like Admiral Wainwright sailed WITH the
fleet IA months ago as q captain. Adj
miral Schroeder's flag was flying today
as he stood on the after bridge 81 me
Louisiana. The other three ships. Of the
division are the Missouri Ohio and the
Virginia.
The last of the returning ships passed
with the fourth division, commanded by
| Rear Admiral w. Z. Potter, who sailed
away as the captain of the Vermont ana
| returned today with his two-starred flag
at the main of the Wisconsin. After the
| Wisconsin steamed the Illinois, Il sister
| ship, and last in the returning line, as
| thew were last to leave. came the kear-
sarge and the Kentucky. the oldest ships
| in the fleet.
| Appearing vastly warlike and grim iii
| spite of the big fiuttering flags at her
| mastheads. the Maine in her new dress
| ing of gray followed 800 yards in the
| wake of the Kentucky She received the
] honorS accorded the vessels of the home
| coming fleet Rear Admiral Arnold, com
| handing the third squadron OF the At
| 'antic fleet was on the bridge of the
Maine The Idaho. the Mississippi and
| he New Hampshire were the last Of the
| Dattleships in line and were followed by
| he arnored cruisers North Carolina and
| Montana and lastly by the rakish looking
| little scout cruisers Chester, Salem and
| Birmingham.
| The little tender Yankton, which pre-
| coded the fleet into Hampton Roads last
| Wednesday, met the battlcships inside
| ne Capes this morning and steamed
| proudly by the May flower with salutinE
fJlhlltn j.
| 1ent'S flag.
! When the last of the cruisers in the
| plendd pageant had passed the May
| flower the Connecticut was steaming by
| the Old Point pier, more than seven miles
| way, and the great crowds gathered
| there were cheering and waving flags.
| landkerchiefs and hats in perfect
| acstacy of welcome enthusiasm. The
| band on the quarter deck was playing
| alternately Home Sweet Home and q
! rollcking air which came across the
| waters with striking resemblance t
'Therell Be Hot Time in the Old Tow
Tonight" Each ship as it passed tn
| pier and turned to anchor in the tw
ines of squadrons received a joyous wei
/ ,ome.
After the ships had anchored in re
| Spouse to signals from the Conhecticu
and the divisional hagships. it seemed
/ out moment before the rainbow hue
/ # huttering signal flags and var-coloret
| bunting all arranged in accordance wit
a common design, sprang as if by magi
l 20 the maStheadS In the lane left b.
/ the warships and still kept clear by
/ patrol fleet of torpedo craft and nava
/ tugs, the Maynower, gay dressed hel
| self, soon was seen making her wa.
| along. The Mayflower passed close in
| shore and there was tremendous Gran
| ing of necks to catch glimpse Of tn
| President and other distinguished guests
| aboard Passing Fortress Monroe tn
| Presidents flag received the army
| tribute of u guns.
The Mayilowcr finally came SILENT
| o anchor i'll the center of the fleet
wifi little steam launches had al
| 'eady been lowered overheard wit
| liant cranes from the divisional flag
| hips and were darling to the variou,
hips to gather up the commanding of
icers for a call on the President Last
| y the four admirals Of the fleet eli
/ tit'i tiit iftttIiNliSS III WHICH tiltiI cap
| aims already We're seated and tins
| tart for the Mayfiowcr was made.
Admiral Sperry's launch was tn,
| irst to reach the starboard gangwa!
| # the Presidents yacht and he was
| ishcred aboard with q flare Of trllm-
| 'ctS, rnffic of drums and a few
| trains Of a lively march played by
he ships hand. President Roosevelt
| advanced from his station on tn,
luarterdeCk to cordially grasp Admira'
Sperry's hand. Then came the cap
tains of The first division and the sue
'eedlnS admiralS and captains Of all
he divisions ard ships Of the return
ng fleet. The commanding officers OF
he auXi;aries. the Yanliton, Culgoa
md Panther also came aboard and
heir greeting was as sincere as that
extended to the flag officers.
President Roosevelts warmly con-
graduated each of/the officers person
Ally aud then collectively he formally
thanked them and all the officers and
men under them for the part played
IN making the cruise such a brilliant
success.