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Show ILDNC VOYAGE OF FLEET IS ENDED Officers and Men Given Glorious Welcome Home al Close of Trip Around the World. "Not Until Some American Fleet Returns Re-turns Victorious from a Great Sea Battle Wnl There Be Another Such Home Coming." I Fortress Monroe, Va. The Amer-' Amer-' lean battleship fleet is home again, having completed the last lap of the long journey around the world on Monday, February 22, the date held in reverence by all true Americans, and which will in future have an added glory aa being the date of the consummation of one of the greatest naval triumphs of the age. The day of the fleet's home coming was cold and gray, with a drizzling downpour of rain, but the elements could not dampen the ardor of the welcome extended by loyal Americans Ameri-cans to the officers and men of the great fleet of fighting machines that had just returned to their native land from a record-breaking voyage. Exactly at noon, in unison with the cannon showing their muzzles ovei the crowded ramparts of Fortress Monroe, the fleet fired a salute of twenty-one guns, each ship letting go' simultaneously. The first, glimpse of the ships by the president and his guests on the Mayflower and the thousands who journeyed down to the Virginia capes on the greatest fleet of excursion excur-sion vessels ever seen in Hampton Roads, was when the black crosses formed by the signal yards at tne mastheads loomed above the horizon. Only the leading ships in the long, straight line were visible when the flash of the cannon from the flagship started the salute to the president's flag flying at the mainmast of the Mayflower. The salute was caught up by every other vessel in the far-flung column which seemed to disappear down the near distance of the close-drawn horizon. hori-zon. In the wake of the sixteen returning return-ing battleships were four other battleships bat-tleships of the home station and five giant cruisers. In the matter of battleships bat-tleships it was the heaviest fleet ever gathered under the flag. The escorting escort-ing ships were garbed in the new gray prescribed for all the vessels of the navy, and appeared at a distanca 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 was black with a restless crush of people as the long column of ships drew near. Swerving far out into the roadstead, the Connecticut Con-necticut led the ships to anchorage, making a long turn, pointing ei prows again toward the capes to face the incoming tide. When night came, the fleet once more at home, rested in two long lines. The vessels were brilliantly illuminated during the evening, the outline of their hulls, their masts and their towering funnels being painted in the brilliant fire of electric bulbs against the black background of the night. Ashore, the admirals and the captains cap-tains of the fleet, together with two scores or more officers, were guests at the annual banquet of the Navy league of the United States, The President's Toast. As President Roosevelt stood, radiantly radi-antly happy, in the cabin of the little cruiser yacht Mayflower at the conclusion con-clusion of the review and the cere' monies attending the welcome home of the American battleship fleet, he gave the following toast: "Not until some American fleet returns re-turns victorious from a great sea battle bat-tle will there be another such homecoming, home-coming, another such sight as this. 1 drink to the American navy." He was surrounded by the admirals and captains of the sixteen world-encircling vessels, brilliantly attired' In all the gold lace and paraphernalia of special full-dress uniform, and every glass was raised in response to the president's suggestion. "We stay-at-homes also drink to the men who have made us prouder than ever of our country." added the president, and again the toast was pledged. "When the fleet sailed from San Francisco. Mr. President." replied Rear-Admiral Charles S. Sperry. "you sent us a message, saying that our's was a heavy 'responsibility and a great honor. That we have today fulfilled the responsibility makes this the proudest moment of our lives. I say 'we' advisedly, in speaking of the fleet, for no one can do what has been done without the loyalty and co-operation of every man on the fleet." Thus briefly the commander-in-chief of the returning ships made his official report to the commander-in-chief of the army and navy. |
