Show LONC 1 byg OF eff Is officers and men given glorious welcome home at close of trip around ae world not I 1 1 some american fleet re turns V ct clorious orious from a great sea battle W 11 II there be another suc such home coming fortress monroe iva a the amer lean ican battleship fleet Is home again having completed comil eted the last lap of 0 the long journey around the world on monday february Feb ruari uarl 2 22 the date held in re reverence arence by all true americans and which will in future have an added glory as be ng the date of the consummation of one on of the greatest ri fijal triumphs of the age the dav of 0 the fleets home coming was cold and gray with a drizzling downpour i of ram rain but the elements could not dampen the ardor of the welcome exten extended by loal ameri cans to the officers and men of the great fleet of 0 fighting machines that had just returned to their native land from a record voyage exactly at noon in unison with the cannon showing their muzzles over the crowded ramparts of fortress monroe the fleet fired a salute of twenty one guns each ship letting gp go binn strut the fir it glimpse of the ships by the president and his guests on the mayflower and the thousands who journeyed a ed down to the Nir virginia ginia capes on the greatest fleet of edcur sion vessels ever seen in hampton roads was when the black crosses formed by the signal yards at the me mastheads leoned loon ed above the horizon only the leading ships in the long straight raight et line were visible when the flash of the cannon from the flagship started the salute to the presidents flag flying at the mainmast of the mayflower the u s lute was caught up by every other vessel in the tar flung column which seemed to disappear down the near distance of the close drawn hori horl zon in the wake of the sixteen return ing battle battleships alps were tour four other bat tie tle ships ot of the home station and five giant cruisers in the matt r of bat tie tle ships it was the heaviest fleet ever gathered gati ered inder the flag the escort ing ships garbed in the hew new gray prescribed for all the vessels of the navy and appeared at a di distance stanco to disadvantage alongside the white and buff vessels of the world girdling squadrons cheer laden breezes swept from the shores out to the incoming vessels the old point dock wa was s black with ith a restless crush of people as the long column of ships drew near swerving far out into the roadstead the con led the ships to anchorage making a long turn pointing isel prows again toward the capes to face the incoming tide when right came the fleet once more at home rested in two tuo long lines the ves els were brilliantly illuminated during the evening the outi ne of their hulls their masts and their towering funnels being matured in the brilliant fire of electric bulbs against the black background of the night ashore the admirals and the cap bains of the fleet together with two s scores C ores or more officers were guests at the annual banquet of the navy league of the united states the pres dents toast As president roosevelt stood radi antly happy in the cabin of the little cruiser yacht mayflower at the con elusion of the review and the ere monies attending the welcome hume home of the american battleship fleet he gave the following toast not until some american Ameil can fleet re turns victorious florn a great sea bat tie tle will there be another such home comin another such sight as this I 1 drini drin to the american favl na he was surrounded by the admirals and cai tarns of the sixteen worlden world en circling vessels bril brilliant liand attired in all the gold lace and paraphernalia of special full dress uniform and every glas glass was raised in response to the president presidents s suggestion we stay at homes also brinl to the men who mho have made us prouder than ever of our co addel adde I 1 the president nt and again th toast was pledged when the fleet billed ficia san franc co mr air president Pies ident replied rear admiral charles k g sperry you sent f a message saving that ours was a heavy resl lesions ons ability and a great honor that we have today fulfilled the responsibility makes this the pro proudest udeRt moment of our lives I 1 sa say y we advisedly in sneaking of the fleet for no ore pre can do what has been done wilhoit the boalt and cooper atlon of verv man on the fleet thus br efly the comman ler in chief of the returning ships made his report to the comman commander derin in chief of the army and nave nav |