Show I 1 ONE OYACE IS I 1 officers and men given gloriot welcome home at close of trip around the world not until some Amerl american can fleet re he turns victorious from a great sea battle will there be another buch home hom coming comina fortress Mon roo vil the american battleship battles bip fleet la Is homo ngali completed tile last lap of tho the long ions journey around the world oil monday alunday february 22 tho dato date held in reverence by all true americans and which will in future have an added glory as aa budill tho the late dato of tho the of one of the greatest groa test naval triumphs of the SIKH age tho oily day or of tho the fleets homo hoino coming WEIS was cold and gray with a drizzling downpour of rain but the elements could cobia not lot da dampen tho the ardor of the welcome extended by loy loyal al americans to the ofil cers arid and mn of the tha 9 reat fleet of oe fighting machines that had just returned to their native land front a record broa voynne exactly nt at noon tit in unison with tile tho caution showing their ovel tho the crowded ramparts ram rum parti of fortress IsI monroe onroe the fleet fired it a salute of twenty one guns pach each ship lott lottine ilig go eo simultaneously the first of tile the by the president anil and hla fils guests on tho the may lower and tho thousands who journeyed down to tho the virginia capoa capes on tile greatest poet fleet of excursion sion vessels vessel ever vcr seen III I 1 heads was when tho the black crosses formed by tho signal yards at me mastheads mast heads loomed above the horizon only tile the leading in the lon long 91 straight line alno wore visible when the flash of tho the cannon from tho the flagship start started etl tho ho salute to tho the presidents dents flag flying at tho the mainmast of tile the mayflower the salute baluto was caught up by every other alier vessel lit in the tha tar far flung column which boern boemel i to disappear down tho the near distance of the close drawn horizon in III tile the wilke wake of the sixteen returning battleships were four other battleships tle ships of the homo home station and five giant cruisers in the matter of bat tt it was wan the heaviest fleet ever gathered under tho the flag the escorting ships were garbed in the new gray prescribed for all the vessels ot the navy and appeared at a di distance stanco to disadvantage alongside alon geldo tho the white and baft vessels of tho the world girdling squadrons cheer laden breezes swept the shores out to tho the incoming vessels the old point dock was black with a restless crush of people as the long column of ships drow near swerving far out into tile tho roadstead tho the connecticut led the ships to anchorage making a long turn pointing aei prows again toward clio capes to face tide when night came the fleet once more at home rested in two long lines the vessels were brilliantly illuminated during tho the evening the outline of their hulls their masts and their towering funnels being painted in tho the brilliant fire of electric bulbs against tho the blade black background of tho the night ashore the admirals and the captains of tho the fleet together with two scores or more officers were guests at the annual banquet of the navy league of the united states the presidents toast As president roosevelt stood radiantly happy in the cabin of tho the little cruiser yacht mayflower at the con elusion of tho the review and tho the cere gonles attending the welcome home of the american battleship fleet lie he gave the following toast not until some eoma american fleet returns victorious from a great sea battle will there bo be another such homecoming another such sight as this I 1 drink to the american navy 11 ile ho was surrounded by the admirals and captains of the sixteen worlden world en circling vessels brilliantly attired in all the gold lace and paraphernalia of special full dress uniform and every glass was raised in response to the presidents dents suggestion tinn we stay at diomes also drink to the men who have made us its prouder than ever of our country added the president and again tho the toast was pledged when mien the fleet sailed from san francisco mr tr president replied rear admiral charles S sperry you sent us a mes nies sage saying s that ours oura was a heavy beavy responsibility and a great creat honor that we havo have today fulfilled the responsibility makes this the proudest pat moment of our lives I 1 say wo we advisedly in speaking of tho the fleet for no one can do what has been done without tho the loyalty and cooper co oper aaion of every man on the fleet thus briefly tho the commander ln in chles chic of the returning ships made hla his Off official iclal report to the commander ln in chief of the army and navy |