The Holly chieftain., 1909-02-26
wELcoMEE FLEET
At fqBT MONROE
NO Acc,o Ears4Ass s MARRIED MAJ, led ITS
vovk keEARouhn IAe
NoRLp.
CT 81 ;: ;ir9oa
TOASTED BY PRESIDENT p! Il.
IN FouRTE EtNs MONTHS y BATTLE
SHIPS HAVE; VISITED MANY
usr,one4 'l.,y"'''52 'iu

NATIONS. ...,''''f7.,n ~ ~, ~
" 90 -'''''''-. '-'.'.
Fort Mo4roe sJVa.-"Not until some
American fleet returns victorious from
q great sea battle will there be another
such homefoming, another such sight
as this. I'drink to the american
navy"
Thi. was ,thes tssst Of Presiasnt
Roosevelt Monday as hs stbdd radiaht-
ly happy in the cabin Of the
graceful littles cruiser yacht Ny
flower at the conclusion Of the review
and the ceremonies attending. the well
come home of the American battleship
fleet I Z Fss r ii IA E
He was surrounded BY the SdnArals
and captains of the sixteen world Ell
circling vessels brilliantly attired in
all the gold lace and paraphernalia of
special full dress uniform, and every
glass was raised In response to the
Presidents suggestion.
1--WE stay-at-homes also drink to the
men who have made us prouder than
ever of our country" added the Presi-
dent, and again the toast was, pledged.
When the fleet sailed from San
Francisco. Mr. Pyesident'I replied
Rear Admiral Charles S. sperry, you
sent US message saying that ours
was a heavy responsibility and a great
honor. That we have today fulfilled
the responsibility makes this the
proudest moment OF our, lives. say
we Advisedly in speaking of the fleet,
fer no man could have what has been
done without the loyal and willing Co
opera ton Of every man on the fleet"
Thus briefly the comnlander-in-chief
Of the returning ships made his off
cial report to the commander-in-chief
Of the army and riavN.il .,,tsi.tst 4
The President was in the same joy
GUS mood as he. was when the ships
set sail fourteen months ago and to
those who had also witnessed that
tie squadron ever gathered under the
American flag he constantly expressed
his enthusiasm over the safe and tri
umphant return of the fleet which was
dispatched under his riders on
cruise which 1t was said was too haz-
ardohs for any such body of ships to
undertake. -
DO you remember the prophecies
of disaster?" asked the President.
We'll, here they are" he added point
ing to the ships, returning after four
teen months without a scratch. l say
1t is magnificent" e. e..,..N
Coming aboard the Connecticut, with
the crew manning the rails, or drawn
up 4t attention on the quarterback
and after bridge with the band play
ing +The Star lSpangled Banner" and
the forward guns firing salute of
twenty-one guns in his honor, the
President passed first down the long
line of officers along the starboard
rail and had word of cordial greet
ing for each and every one.
The Presidents address was short,
but was punctuated with hearty khfer-
ing. He said in part:
Admiral Sperry, officers and men of
the battleship fleet
"over year has paased since yqp
steamed Out of sthis hafbdr and over
the worlds rim, and this morning the
hearts of all who saw you thrilled with
pride as the hdfls of the mighty war.
ships lifted above the horizon. ~ A.
you have been in the northern and
the southern hemispheres; fs,T Hnies'
you have crossed the line; you have
steamed through all the great oceans;
you have touched the coast of ssXs{y
continent. Ever your general cQurae
has been westward; and now yQH come
back to the port from which AQu 81
sail. "n''.NG
This Ifs 1.-The first battleship fleet
that has ever circumnavigated the
globe. Those who perform the feat
again can but follow in your footsteps.
"As war machiRe, the fleet comes
back in better shalf than y II il vept ont:.
In addition, you, tlfe' 6ffiters and men
of this formidable fighting force. have.
shown yourselves the best of all posi-,
BILE ambassadors and heralds of peace.
I'VE are proud of all the ships and
all the men in this whole fleet and we
welcome you home to the country
whose good repute among natioRs-has
been raised by what you have DONE
Long Term for Threats.