The San Francisco call., 1909-04-26
ROYAL WELCOME
Is GIVEN VISITING.
JAPANESE SHIPS.
Big Cruisers AsO and Soya Drop
Anchor in San Pedro
HarbOr
Admiral in Command Was Cap
tain of TOgO's Flagship in
Russian War

Los ANGELES. April 25-For the
ii7st time in 10 years the warships of
Japan enter the Pacific coast port of
the United States. when the cruisers
Soy2 and Aso. comprising the Japan
ese training squadron commanded by
. Rear Admiral H I5ichi, steamed into
san Pedro al noon today. Not since
the training ships entered the bay OF
san Francisco half score of years
ago have the vessels aying the flag Of
\ ne Rising Sun been sighted on the
3 Lestern shores Of this country.
The Aso and Soya dropped anchor
sat San Pedro, the harbo- OF Los
. angeles. today on peaceful visit Of
some weeks duration which viii take
+. them 20 al of the principal ports of
=. tjle Pacific coast The two vessels com
prising Admiral Ijichi's squadron arc
;. prizes OF tie Russell apanese war. The
:, Aso is the former Russian cruiser
=t53yan, taken in the harbor of Port
.. Arthur when General StoesseI surren-
- de-eo that fortress into the hands
3of the victorious Japanese.
The Soys was formerly the cruiser
Narag, which was sunk in the harbor
Of Chemulpo, Korea. just after the
breaking out OF the war. 1t was after
=. ward raised and with the Aso converted
d. into modern war vessels for the train
fHg squadron Of the Mikado's navy.
Each ship carries single forward and
after tu-ret 8 inch gun. broadside bat
tery Of eight inch guns and sixteen
of 500 men each. including g. officers
ana lS5 cadets
The AsO is the flagship of Admiral
lJlchi He is a veteran OF the war with
Russia, and commanded the battleship
a1i ikasa. the flagship of Admiral Togo.
which participated in all the memora BILE
battles Of that war and on which
Admiral Rojestyensky was taken as
prisoner of war after his defeat in the
sea OF Japan. Admiral Ijichi visited
san Francisco in 1850 as a cadet on
a japanese corvette.
PLANS SHORT STAY
Ia broken English the admiral re-
1erred briefly TO his present visit.
We shall visit Los Angeles, san
. Francisco, Seattle and Victoria and
possibly other ports. We must return
To Japan by August j, and our stay
cn the shores OF the United states viii
be brief. We shall remain at san
pedro until Wednesday and then 90
20 san Francisco for a week or more.
and then proceed north. We expect To
'5e al Seattle at the opening Of the
= NpOsition.
Personally ] can only express my
pleasure at the increased evidence of
friendliness between the United States
:snd my country ] have no doubt but
that our visit here viii be one of last
Ing pleasant remembrance for Us. We
of Japan have great admiration for
America and I am glad of this oppor-
unity 20 return here for even so short
"a stay.
p, Although san Pedro was the first
American port touched since the squad
ron left HlO Hawaii some ten DAYS
ago. neither the federal nor state gov
eminent made any particular demon
stratiOn Of welcome TO the coast That
IS reserved for san Francisco when the
ships arrive there about May l. when
! the Pacific feet and federal and state
officials VIII render a more elaborate
welcome.
OFFICIALS GREET ORIENTALS
The government was represented to-
day by G. W Pendleton. collector Of
the port Of san Pedro and by officials
from the cities Of Los Angeles and San
Pedro. The latter included Acting
Mayor John Mott OF Los Angeles.
PRESIDENT Willus Booth q the cham
Der OF commerce Of Los Angeles. Mayor
alton Of San Pedro and others Cen
tral r. T. Prescott. register Of the gov
ernment land Office was also included
Consul General Mskuzo Nagai OF san
Francisco was also a member OF the
Official party which boarded the Aso
shortly after she came TO anchor
Oficial welcome TO southern Califor-
MA was extended to the visiting squad
ron in brief addresses in the after
cabin OF. Admiral Ijicaf
A feature of the arrival OF the squad
ron today was it's reception by repre-
sentatives OF the 10000 Japanese who
reside In southern California. Hun
-dreds Of them journeyed early today TO
san Pedro 10 greet the warships or
their country Four steamers were
chartered by them and loaded with
.passeng gers and with the flags of the
United States and Japan flying fore and
aft steamed outside the outer harbor
TO welcome the Japanese vessels. A
committee boarded the Aso and pre-
sented to Admiral Ijichi a printed ad-
dress OF welcome and congratulation
upon his arrival Gifts Of hundreds Of
boxes Of oranges. strawberries and
other fruits were presented 10 the Off
GERS and men.
Tomorrow morning two days en-
tertainment Of the officers and men.
including automobile rides. trolley
trips. banquets etc. viii begin. The
squadron will depart some time
wednesday for san Francisco. Ad-
Iniral I5ichi said today that he and a
number Of his officers might go 10 San
Diego BY train, as they desired 10 visit
that port but this has not been def
niteIy determined upon.