The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-24
Sperry Tells Richmond Hosts,
South Furnished Many
Of His Sailors.
jAcKIEs SOON WILL LAND
GREAT SHIPS YESTERDAY PAID
BUT SMALL HEED TO THE
STORM THAT RACED OVER
HAMPTON ROADS.

Richmond. Va, Feb. 24.-Graceful
homage was paid by the south yester,
day to the globe girdling American
b~attleship fleet in this old capital OF
the confederacy.
I'VE welcome you to the hearts Of a
people who yield to no one in devo.
ton to the American navy nor in 10y
atty to our flag"
This sentiment, feelingly expressed
at a luncheon in the jefferson hotel
this afternoon by Mayor Richardson
in welcoming Rear Admiral Sperry
Rear Admiral Wainwright. and fifty
four officers under the formers com.
mand to this city, found echo in the
words of gallant Sperry. who said:
"On the worlds cruise l have had
about me a splendid corps of officers.
In my personal staff of seven men, six
of them are commonly known in the
ships as 'arrant' rebels. Georgia, Flor
ida, South Carolina, all are represent
ed among my personal aids, while my
own state of Connecticut is left out
SAASA y w L lAlCoO luSA at ClC 1CCl
is it any wonder that we have got
here and have got here on time?"
Sperry Tells Trips Lessons.
Rear Admiral Sperry pointed out
that the voyage around the world was
no junket. while we have been en-
circling the GLOBE" he said, Z" we have
doubled the score of last years target
practice. The fleets efficiency has
increased % per cent by economy OF
coal consumption, due to hard and
faithful work of the men below decks.
When a contest comes a navy must
know how to get there and how to stay
there when it gets there.
Now that the world is governed by
the people it is not sufficient that a
solitary arbitrary ruler should know on
paper the possibilities of a contest.
And since the people generally are on
ly impressed by what they see. it is
necessary, if you desire the eac OF
the world. that you show your fleet"
The bad weather which greeted the
battleship fleet yesterday, the worst
they have experienced in any port Wis
tied on their way around the world,
today. During the after
noon a stiff southeastern set in, driv-
ing a singing rain before it.
Ships Are Being CoaIed.
Hampton Roads seemed fairly chok-
ed with fighting craft today. The two
long lines of the combined s%quadrons
of Rear Admirals Sperry and Arnold
stretched away from the dock almost
as far as the eye could reach. Nearly
half Of the ships began coaling in spite
of the weather.
1t is hoped that the last of the
ships will have been coaled by Satur-
day in order that the man may parade
in Norfolk on that day. They will be
the city's guests. This will be the
first shore leave the men will nave.
They are being kept aboard ship now
in anticipation of an inspection OF
each ship by Rear Admiral Sperry and
an inspection board.
The battleship Vermont was still in
quarantine today. A case OF small
pox developed on board. The sick
man was taken to the naval hospital
at Norfolk today, and most of the Of
ficers and members of the crew have
been vaccinated anew. The men have
been restricted to the ship.
One of the most interesting sights to-
day was the departure of a large num-
Der Of enlisted men, whose terms Of
service had expired. AS they left the
side of the vessels they were given us
ty cheers by the sailors. Negro boys
and porters lettering about the dock
reaped a harvest from the home going
sailors. who, disdaining to carry their
own satchels and bundles. handed
them over to the boys to be taken to
the railroad station or trolley cars.