The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-23

 1 throng as today and a strong detail of artillerymen from Fort Monroe was re- | qutred to keep the crowds from pushing those in the front ranks of the lines of | spectators overheard into the sea. Swerv- 1 ing far into the roadstead, the Connec- tcut led the ships to anchorage, mak- | ing long graceful turn and pointing her brow again toward the capes to face the incoming tide.
 Fleet Now at Rest.
 Tonight the fleet once more at home rests in two long lines The vessels were brilliantly illuminated during tue evening, the outlines of their hulls, their masts and their towering tunnels being painted in the brilliant fire of electric bulbs against the black background of the night.
 Ashore the admirals and the cap- tains of the fleet, together with two score or more of officers were guests at the annual banquet of the Navy league of the United States, the speak CTS being Rear Admiral Sperry, who responded to the toast The Fleet" Capt. John<C. Fremont of the battle ship Mississippi, whose subject was.
 The Modern Battleship;" Lieut. Com. Ridley Mclean, first ordnance officer. who spoke on American Blue eiackets;" Gov. Claude Swanson of Virginia. John w. Weeks and Col Robert M Thomp- son. whose toast was Welcome Home"
 The banquet was held in the Hotel Chamberlin ballroom. The parIors and spacious lobbies of the hotel were thronged with officers in uniform, All of the ships will remain here for a week and at least one-half of the 25 vessels in the roadstead will remain until after the inaugura tion.
 The half-score of Turkish naval of ficers who came home as passenee with the fleet were picturesque figures in the hotel throng. Their uniforms are much like the Americans, but in stead of cap they wear red fezzes.
 Fleet Nears Destination.
 The battleships picked up their regu- lar cruising speed of 10 knots an hour early this morning after a night of comparative rest. Brass work was polished to a degree of unequalled brilliance and wherever paint work had been marred on the journey home. fresh coats of white and buff applied to sides and superstructure made the shins as immaculate as they were on that beau tiful day in December, 1907, when they sailed away on a cruise that was to set new mark for the navies of the world
 When the battleships pointed their prows at daylight for the gateway of the roads the Mayflower, with the Pres ident and his party on board was steaming down Chesapeake bay to the anchorage ground at the tail of the Horseshoe,' today with their splendid record of achievements and victories of peace behind them, the 16 battleshins came home to welcome and to a cere- monious greeting which could hardly have been more jubilant and sincere if the fleet were returning victoriously from some famous battle ground. The President addressed not only the off cers of the fleet gathered upon the quarter deck of the Mayfiower, but he visited as well the four divisional fla agships and there he addressed the crews in terms of enthusiastic comple- ments. As 1t was impossible for MT. Roosevelt to visit each of the 1e re- turning vessels, representatives of the men from each ship in the four divis- ions were gathered upon the 1agships and they in turn took the Presidents greetings to their shipmantes
 Fleet Is First Seen.
 The Mayf1ower had not long lain at anchor when the tracings of smoke on the horizon told of the approach of the fleet, and soon the mastheads of the Connecticut could be picked up with glasses through the wide swung capes. Then the white hull of the famous flag ship flashed into view. Out of the dis tance the fleet grew rapidly until at last the end of the white column in front could be distinguished. The gray-clad vessels of the escort grew far more slowly above the horizon and served as a splendid demonstration of the value of natural color for naval vessels in time of war.
 While the leading ships were still mile or more distant from the May flower a puff of white smoke from the forward bridge of the Connecticut fol- lowed by a mufhed boom served as signal to all the fleet that the flag ship had made out"' the Presidents flag on the Mayfiower. It was also the signal of "home at last" and made the hearts of 14.00G men and GOO officers beat quick CT in realization that the day they had looked forward to through all the lavish hospitality abroad had at last arrived.
 National Salute.
 That first gun of the Connecticut's na- tional salute to the President found every ship in line with saluting cannon ready, and the second powder puff from the