Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-14
ADMIRAL BENSON,
GENE RAL BARNET Tt
ENTERTAINED At
DINNER AND BALL
Noted Fighters Spend Several
Hours in Duke City, Coming
Here From Santa Fe After
Receiving Medals,
PROFUSE IN PRAISES
OF N. M. RECEPTION
Fiesta Pronounced Quaint and
Gorgeous Spectacle Gov,
larrazolo Highly CompIi-
mented On His Speech.

Albuquerque had the pleasure last
night of enterta dining for a few hours
two distinguished fighters, Admiral
w. s. Benson ana Major General
| George Barnet, and their partiesI
They arrived here on train No. from
Santa Fe, ,otre yesterday afternoon
! the admira sl-le general were eacn
medal votelH them by the last session
Of the legislature. They were accom-
panied here from the Ancient City by
Louis Ilfeld, Nestor Montoya, F. A.
| Hubbell, Rafael Garcio, c. r. French
and Max Nordhaus.
| The other members OF the party,
besides Admiral Benson and Major
General Barnett, and their aides.
Commander A. II. Carter and Captain
| f. S. Robinson respectively, were
Mrs. Benson, Mrs. Barnett and Lieu
tenant Governor and Mrs, Pankey
Miss Leila Gordon, Mrs. Barnetts
daughter, remained in Santa Fe last
| night. Governor LarraZolo and wife
who had intepded coming here, were
unable to do $50 account eof the gov.
ernor being called to San Juan county,
and w. A. Hhwkins were prevented
from coming on account of Mrs, Haw-
kins being slightly indisposed.
The visitors were escorted ito the
Alvarado Immediately upon their ar
hrival, where they held an impromptu
reception in one of the lounging rooms
Immediately off the lobby. At S:46
o'clock they were the guests of honor
at private dinner given in Taft hall,
under the auspices of the Chamber OF
Commerce, the Kiwanis club and che
Rotary club. The following were in
attendance:
Admiral and Mrs. w. S. Benson
Major General and Mrs, George Bar
nett, Lieutenant Governor and Mrs.
Pankey, Messrs. and Mesdames O. N.
Marion, Charles r. Eller, M. X. Wyl-
der, David Spence Hill, w. c. Oes-
treich, H. r.. Bow, Walter M, Con-
rell, w. c. Reid, Commander A, +.
Carter and Captain +. s. Robinson.
Taft hall was beautifully decorated
for the occasion. A large American
flag was suspended at the south end
of the hall. lPotted palms were ar
ranged about the room so as to give
it pleasing effect. Cut flowers
adorned the table.
The party reached the ElkA' club,
from the banquet at 1880 o'clock.
following their presentation to a.
number OF Albuquerque citizens in the
parlor, they ascended into the ball
room, in the southwest corner of
which seats had been reserved for
them. After the crowd had filed In,
o. N. Marion presented Admiral Ben
son and Major General Barnett in
turn, and asked them to make few
remarks.
Adpiral Benson Speaks.
Admiral Benson, the first speaker
started off with story about a sol
dier, from New Mexico, he said, who
was returning home from overseas
AS the ship entered New York harbor
the soldier, looked 1T the staue of Lib
erty and said:
''Well, If you ever want to see me
againNyou will have to tm n around.
After partdking of your hospital
ity," the. admiral continued, being the
of the warm and cordial
greeting you have extended to Us, wit
Messing theSfiesta at Santa Fe and all
the other cohrte5ies you have extend.
ed, IL Il lived in New Mexico j, too,
would say to the, statue OF Liberty: If
you ever want to see me again you
will have to turn around.
Major General Barnett spoke in the
same strain as to the hospitality of
Albuquerque and New Mexico, and
said he was coming hack some time.
He said we wouldn't have to invite
him-that ws couldn't keep him away.
He thanked the people of the state
for presenting medals to Admiral
Benson and himself and said no other
state in the union had coferred SINH |
lar honors upon officials of the army, |
navy or marine corps.
During an interview earlier In the
evening both officers gave warm
praise to Governor Larrazolo for the |
speech he made when presenting the
medals, They said 1t was one of the
best Addresses they had ever heard |
full of oratory and warm sentiment.
The ball room was a bower of |
beauty, the national colors and potted |
plants being used effectively There
was a large crowd of Albuquerque's I
representative citizens present Dane
ing began about 3 o'clock and con-
tinued until midnight
Admiral Benson is a native of
Georgia, having been born at Macon,
September 25. 1855. He graduated
from the United States Military I
academy In 1877 and received the de-
gree of l.. L. ID. from Villa Nova col
lege of Pennsylvania and from Loyola
of Maryland in 1917 He was pro-
NOTED to ensign in July, 1881; lieu
tenant, 1898; lieutenant dommander,
1900; captain, July "a. 1909; rear
admiral, May IL, 1915. apd had the
rank of permanent admiral conferred
on him by congress last week.
During the war against Germany
Benson was in charge of
naval movements which included the
plans for operating the American
fleet, assigning the men and every
thing connected with naval activities.
His headquarters was in Washington,
but his duties called him to all parts
Of the nation. He also went abroad,
the first time in 1917. when me spent
and December In Europe,
and in October. 1918. he went over
seas the second time, remaining there
until peace was concluded. He was
one of the advisors during the peace
parley in Paris f.
!: Admiral Benson will retire by age
limitation September %. 1919, with
bhe rank OF rear admiral. He will
receive full pay 40 long a. he lives. It
NJ lil