Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-03

PRESIDENT EXCHANGES VISIT
Flagship Florida, Three American
Drcadnoughts and Torpedo Boats
and Destr0yers Blaze Out SaIvos.

| Norfolk, Va, June 3,-To gun thun-
der suca as has not rocked Hampton
Roads since President Roosevelt Wis
tied to the combined American and for
eign fleets at the opening of the
jamestown Exposition, President TAT!
today reviewed the German cruiser
squadron, exchanged visits with the
foreign princes and naval dignitaries,
and thus formally closed the incident
occasioned by Commander Sims "last
drop of blood" speech in London a
year ago.
As the Mayfower, with President
Taft aboard conveyed by a group of
rakish destroyers rounded Old Point
Comfort at noon, the Florida flag
ship for the American squadron, gave
tongue to the first splitting salute,
and instantly the three German ships,
the seven American drcadnoughts and
no end Of torpedo boats and destroy
ers blazed out their salvos.
The president got 2l guns greet
ing from every ship on his arrival.
He got II more from every ship when
he visited the German admiral and
- late in the afternoon when he left
for Washington.
Norfolk, June3.-Rcsplcndcnt in the
bright sunshine Of an early June
morning, their officers, brilliant in
dress uniform and their hundreds of
jaunty sailor men waiting with eager
expectation of the naval ceremonies of
the day, Germany three warstips.
which are visiting the U. S. as a re-
turn of courtesies, weighed. anchor at
LynnhaVcn Bay, off the Virginia
Capes early this morning and steamed
up Hampton Roads to meet Uncle
Sans eight dreadnoughts which were
waiting to boom out Il thunderous
welcome TO them. The German visi-
tors are the battle cruiser Moltke, the
biggest craft Of her kind afloat and
The cruisers Bremen and Stettin. In
command Of the German feet is Rear
Admiral Won Reuber Paschwitz, for
mer attache of the German embassy
here and social favorite in Washing
ton. After the American dreadnou-
ghts had fired the full compliment of
salutcs called for by the occasion, the
German ships spoke up noisily, then
cast anchor alongside the battleship,
Florida, Louisiana and Kansas, there
to await the coming Of President Taft,
the German ambassador and other
guests on the Presidential yacht May
flower. The German ships with their
thin steel mastS were easily distn-
guishcd from the American fighters,
with their steel net tops towering high
in the air.
Following the firing of the big guns,
the crews Of the German ships gave
three lusty cheers for the American
sailors, who returned them with all
the vigor at command. Presently
preparations were made for Admiral
Paschwitz and his subordinate officers
to pay formal cal to the officers Of
the American ships. The admiral
boarded a tiny launch and Vas quick
ly conveyed to the battleship Florl-
da, where he was formally received
by Rear Admiral Ward, commander
of the American naval division, who
conveyed to him the official welcome
of his men. This formality occupied
only a short time and the German com
mandcr returned to his ship, the Molt-
ke. Another short interval and the
American commander boarded one of
his launches and went to the Moltke,
where the German admiral received
him and accompanying officers of the
American squadron. This completed
the American admiral returned to the
Florida and the crews of the big ships
awaited the coming of President
Taft.
AS soon as the Mayfower came IN
sight the guns of the combined fleets
fired the national salute on signal
from the squadron flagship the Flo
rida.
The program called for formal call
by the German admiral on the Presi-
dent on board the Mayfiower; then,
the American officers will pay their
respects to the Executive, following
which the president the president Will