New-York tribune., 1910-11-23
PRESIDENT TAFT RETURNS
Inc Tennessee Narrowly Escaped
Collision with Training Ship.
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CANAL
NO Doubt Of Successful Compile
tlon-President Will Be in
washington Late To-day.

FoIt Monroe, Va, Nov 22-President
ASit Panama cruise came to an end here
The armored cruisers Tennessee
ana Montana, with the Presidents party
ABOARD, dropped anchor at II 20 a m The
fIesloent remained aboard the Tennessee
iof luncheon and left the CITY late this af-
| 'ernoon Tor Richmond where he remained
overnight He win reach Washington late
'o-lflorro"' The President and al tue
members Of his party are well
Inc Trip up from Panama was filled with
| lliciueht- On Friday night last. about one
! hunored and forty miles south Of Guanta-
nafTlo' Cuoa- the Tennessee narrowly avert
eo coilslon with German training ship
supposed TO be the Freya 4 heavy squal
Lac shut in around the Presidential squad
ron the weather being so thick that the
steersman could hardly see a ships length
ahead The storm was brief, and, it
cleared, the big German ship was cutting
! directly across the Tennessee's steel bows
not quarter Of z mile away The helm
OF the Tennessee was put hard over. The
Freya continued on her course There was
10 exchange Of signals
/ On saturday the President spent three
I hours at Guantanamo looking over the
American naval base and the rife ranges
! tfere- II was the first time an American
President had set foot on the island of
cuba The territory visited by MI Taft,
! however. is under American sovereignty.
! Monday morning brought the only disa-
greeable weather Of the voyage Off the
North Florida coast the cruisers ran into
the tail end OF a cycIonic disturbance. The
sea was exceedingly rough. and for hours
the cruisers were shipping water over their
fcrecastles. Speed was reduced several
I L.
down and ventflators and all other gear
lashed to the decks. The height of the
storm was passed about a. m. but the
sea did not moderate until well toward
noon President Taft is a splendid sailor.
and did not mind the shaking up in the
least.
The President spent three Of the five
days Of the homeward voyage AT work on
his message TO Congress, and dictated the
first draft Of the major portion Of it.
Mr Taft is anxious 10 get back to Wash
ington and is ready 10 plunge into the
winters work His stop-over in Richmond
Is to make q speech before the Virginia.
Educational Conference there at noon to-
morrow Tomorrow forenoon the Presi-
dent will motor over some of the Virginia
battleields outside of Richmond
The Mexican situation is still being
handled wholly by the state department
at Washington. Mr.. Taft has had only
meagre details.
The President is deeply gratifed over con-
ditions in Panama. The canal is taking
form rapidly. and its successful compile
ton is no longer looked upon by the Ex-
lecutive with the slightest degree of DOUBT
Mr Taft has absolute faith in Colonel
Goethals the chief engineer, and the mem
bers OF his staff His personal inspection
OF the Gatun dam. the two flights of locks
and the Culebra cut greatly impressed the
President. and he declared that If al
American citizens could see these great
works there would no longer be any mis-
givirgs as to the future Of the canal
Richmond. Va. Nov. 22.-President Taft
came 10 Richmond tonight TO be the
guest Of the citizens Of the old confed-
crate capital for twenty-four hours. Mr.
Taft dined at the Westmorelard Club, and
later held an informal reception at the
Commonwealth Club. He is a guest to-
night at the jefferson Hotel.
Tomorrow the President viii take break
fast with Governor Mann at the executive
mansion. will motor over some of the