THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2206, 2 June 1908, Page 3

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

THE V ALP Alt ALSO VISIT. A visitor to ALilparaiso gives the following interesting account of tlm passing of the United States fleet:— “Alv daughter and I went to Valparaiso to see the fleet go by. It was a fine sight. Exactly at the hour announced the fort at the southern horn of the bay fired a signal gun, and at the same instant a line of battleships, sixteen abreast, and live miles across, came in view, passed tne point, and then every slop turned sharp and formed a long line, heading straight for the port. They cam© in slowly and about 300 yards one behind' the other, and when opposite the fort- saluted .in unison, the sixteen liuns as one, 21 rounds, llton they crossed the port anil swept lound the bay. not 300 yards from the shore, si Aviv aiid majestically, no. smoke, invisible disturbance. AVe could seethe people on’hoard quite plainly. Tho bands were playing “Hail Columbia on every ship. Close to where wo were, our President was reviewing the fleet from the national trainingshin Baqudan, and as the fleet passed even- ship, saluted 21 guns in return. ' Then they turned away north, opening up tho distance between each ship imperceptibly, andas the smoke from the last gun blew away there were a few flashes from the heliograph on the Chicago, and as if impulsed •by one acconl, the white loam rolled on every bow and soon the great white ships with tneir yellow massive towers and rows ol long (dim guns, nothing remained in sbdit but a long thin line of white, and a trail of smoke such as can only be made by. Chili coal.