The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-15
DATTLESH|ps At CHARLESTON.
MONARCHS OF SEA ENTER HAIR.
BOR FOR COMMERCIAL
CONGRESS.
Representatives of United States
Navy on Hand for Big Annual
Southern Event - Entertainments
Planned.

|
Charleston, Dec. 1.-THE six pow.
ertul battleships, ordered here for
Southern Commercial congress week,
readily entered Charleston's deep har-
Dor this morning between 10 and II
O'Clock and now ride easily at anchor
IN the Cooper river, a spectacle Of
naval strength most gratifying to the
throngs who were on the waterfront
for hours this afternoon, gazing upon
the Virginia, Rear Admiral De Witt
Coffman's flagship, and her big COM
panions, the Utah, South Carolina,
New Jersey, Georgia and Rhode Is
land.
Arriving at the Charleston lightship
early this morning, the ships tarried
a couple of hours and then started
their stately procession through the
jetties and into Charlestons far-famed
harbor. The higher draft vessels came
iii first, reaching anchorage a little
after 10 o'clock and the more pom
derous South Carolina and Utah fol-
loved close behind, the six seaighters
being in their positions for the coming
weeks celebration before II o'clock
1t was not high tide at the custom
house until 1880.
Shortly after noon Managing Di-
rector G. j. Owens of the Southern
Commercial congress and E. W.
Hughes, chairman of the local naval
committee, accompanied by members
Of DR.. Owens staff and of the naval
and general Charleston committee
boarded yacht and paid an official
visit to Read Admiral Coffman on the
flagship Virginia which hearty well
come was extended from the Southern
Commercial congress officials and
from the representatives of the city
of Charleston. There followed a dis
cussion with Admiral Coffman and his
staff Of details attendant upon the
'lSit Ol the meet mere.
The weather accorded the entrance
by the fleet into this harbor today was
by no meals ideal, for it was windy
and ell too moist, but the warmth of
the greetings extended the distin-'
guished naval visitors made up for
, overcast skies and the officers and
bluejackets were made Immediately to
feel at home. They were handed the
keys Of the city crI invited IT, take
: Possession at once.
This splendid array Of Uncic Sam S
gallant Lattleships is 10 be the cues.
Of Charleston for a week.
/ I.n.erIainment for the officers and
enlisted men Of the six big battle
ships that ride at anchor today in
the harbor begins Monday and will
continue through Thursday. In ad-
dition to the luncheons smokers, BAN
quets, dances, theatre matinees. oys-
ter roasts and athletic events, there
will be a number of smaller, but none
the less enjoyable social affairs for
groups Of the officers and sailors. The
formal programme of entertainment
includes the functions fixed by the
naval committee, the social functions
committee, the committee on enter
tainment for warrant officers and en-
listed men and the Woman's auxiliary
committee.
In honor IF Rear Admiral Dewitt
Cotfman and Rear Admiral August
F. Fechteler, and the captains of each
of the battleships in the two divisions,
the programme will be opened Mon
day with luncheon at the Charles
ton club. The entertainment for en-
listed men will begin Monday after
noon with a football game, U. S. S.
Virginia playing the U. S. S. Rhode
Island at College park. Monday even
ing, enlisted men or snore leave are
expected to attend in large numbers
the first of a series of three basket
ball games to be played at the Y. NJ
{. A. for the championship of the
third division of the Atlantic fleet
The contest for the title will be be-
tween the battleships Rhode Island
and New Jersey. All games will be
played at the Y. NJ. c.. A.