Evening star., 1909-02-18
GUNS BOOM At SEA
ArnoId's Squadron SaIutes
Homecoming Fleet.
MEETING A JOYFUL ONE
Sailors Aboard World.Girdlers Hun
CRY for News.
TWENTY BATTLESHIPS IN LINE
Expected They Will Be at the Capes
Late Saturday Night-Wire-
less From Connecticut.
TWENTY BATTLESHIPS IN LINE

T. s. S LOUISIANA, via L. S. S. Con-
necticut and by Wireless to the Navy
Yard, Boston, February tS.-A part of the
third squadron, under Rear Admiral Ar
mold, Joined the fleet Wednesday at noon,
$50 miles east of Cape Henry. The Maine.
the New Hampshire. the Idaho, the Mis-
sissippi and the Salem now form the right
flank of the fleet, under Arnold.
Admiral Sperry, with the first squadron
is on the right, and Schroeder, with the
second squadron. on the left. The fleet
today approaching the American coast
consists of twenty battlesnps and one
scout cruiser, i'll command oi tive rear
admraS.
The officers OF the fleet were much in-
terestod in the new military masts with
which the Idaho and the MISSISSIPPI
under Rear Admiral Arnold, are equipped
They also showed much interest In the
appearance of the third squadron when IL
arrived Yesterday, as all of Arnold Shlps
were in the new war color. The hrst ana
second seuadronS are still painted White.
The sea today is smooth, with south
west breeze. The ships are making ten
and one-half knots, and Will reach their
southern drill grounds probably Sunday
morning.
Saluted With Thirteen Guns.
NEW YORK, February 1s.-The united
wireless operator at Manhattan Beach
picked up a message relating TO the meet
ing of the returning fleet and the third
squadron early this morning. 1t stated
that the smoke of the welcoming ships
was just sighted by the fleet at 10 o clock
yesterday morning on the starooard DOW
The third squadron came on formation
line abreast at one mile distant. Tue
meeting took place at noon.
Arnold's flagship. the Maine. gave Ad-
miral Sperry salute OF thirteen guns
aud the flag was dipped. sperry returned
the third squadron commander greeting
in similar manner.
AT .Arnold'S order the third squadron
then executed a right flank turn and the
ships took UP their position sixty yards
on the tarboard hand of the first squad
ron Arnold now second in command. is
flying the red flag from his ship. Under
him the Maine. the New Hampshire,
lie Idaho, the Mississippi and the Salem.
which form the right flank.
Having allowed ssthe third squadron to
take up its position the fleet proceeded
in Il northwest course. The sea was
rather choppy, owing TO a SouthweSterly
breeze.
Men Hungry for News.
The meeting OF the fleet and squad
ron was such a one as is seldom seen
on the high seas. The home comm z
bIuejackets watched those sent out to
greet them with great interest. The
skeleton masts appeared strange to the
men who have been around the world,
and who looked them over with criti-
cal eyes. The Maine received an en-
thusiastic welcome from the fleet, to
which she was attached during the
first part of the trip Such was the
greeting and later procedure of the
ships according to messages picked up
by wireless operators during the night.
One sentence of a message expressed
the feelings of the men who have Deen
away from home now well over year:
Fleet hungry for news and will ap-
preciate bulletin
From the'last dispatch received it is
probable that the fleet will be off the
cupeS late Saturday night and be well
prepared for it's welcome on Monday
Sunday is evidently to be spent in
mdneuVerS.
Rear Admiral PilIsbury. chief of the
bureau OF navigation. Navy Department
this morning received a wireless messa ge
from Rear Admiral Sperry, commanding
the Atlantic fleet. via the Fire Island
station, as follows:
Maine. New Hampshire, Idaho. Mis-
slssippi. Salem Joined fleet noon today
Fleets position pm, 34-21 north 57-57
west
Because OF his recent indlsposition Ad-
HnIdI Dt"tE mas Deen compelled to de-
cine the Presidents Invitation to ac-
company H!m 10 Hampton roads to Wit
ness the review OF the hattleship fleet
Admiral Sperry has accepted an invita-.
Ton to attend Il dinner of the Navy
League. to be held February o. at For,
Monroe. Va. The admirars acceptance
was embodied in a wireless message re.
'eived today by III. III. Ward of this CITY
admiral Sperry also stated in the mes.
sage that seventy-fve of his officers have
also accepted the invitation OF the league
and would be present at the dinner