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Show The Sailing of the Ships. Our country's place among the nations was never more clearly shown than by the journey of the. battleship fleet. No other fleet could have made a like voyage. We do not refer to ships themselves, but to the attitude of the nations toward the fleet. It began with the welcome of the Brazil-Hans, Brazil-Hans, then when it was decided that no call should be made at Buenos Ayres, Argentina sent out -its fleet to find the ships at sea and do our country through them especial honor. Next Chlii sent her warships far down the coast to escort the big ships to Valpairaso; then Peru did all she could to make the ships and their crews honor, and so the continent was circled. And now be fore reaching a home port warm and cordial la- HI vitations have come from Australia, away down jB under the Southern Cross, from China, and warm- Bl est of all, from Japan. When the visits shall all IBK be made and the fleet rounds the straights settle-ments settle-ments and heads for the Indian ocean we shall expect more invitations from Mediterranean ports jHj and the circling of the earth so far as the na- tions are concerned will be preceded with wel- flB comes and followed by good will. The reason is BJB first because our land is free, and the world BB thrills at the thought of it after her ages of op- SB pression. The next reason is that all the nations jH know that we want nothing of them but their iB good will. No lust of land; no desire for con- BB quest; no spying out weaknesses in others and flB better than all, absolute confidence in our pro- B fessions of good will. Then, it is an object les- IB son to Europe. As it were out of the sea the B' vision of the splendid ships have emerged, from r, B land they have never ceased to feel, is as yet B but a crude affair, these ships have come and B from keel to main top and in every roaring gun B they are bound to confess are equal to the best. B We wish they might swing into Palos, Spain, and roar a grand salute, signaling maen while that B it is but a return visit made through courtesy and reverence for the memory of the dark aged HB seer, who, four hundred and sixteen years ago, WB saw through the veil that hid the face of the At- 1 antic, and wont out to find a now world; that j8 this was but a return call. We hope that when HK the fleet sails past Trafalgar that all tho guns H will be awakened in salute to the memories of PH the heroes who died there and with them the gB great Nelson who has been In thought by every HS American officer who has since led a ship into a conflict. And if no accident befalls the ships, H their coming home will be a triumph more splen- jB did than to come from an ordinary war for all HBj the while decks and all the grim guns will bo MB garlanded with the flowers of peace. Ek9 |
