Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1908 — FLEET IS ON ITS WAY HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FLEET IS ON ITS WAY HOME

Battleships Set Sail Today From Manila. LAST LEG OF THE CRUISE Philippine Call Was Final Extended Sojourn of Vessels at Any Port Before Sighting Home—Sperry Bids Farewell to Governor Smith and Other Island Officials—Crowds Lining Harbor Cheer Vessels as They Pull Up Anchor. Manila. Dec. 1. With the long homeward bound pennants of the ves seis streaming in the breeze that blew across Manila harbor Uncle Sam’s great fleet of battleships started from here today on the last leg of their cruise around the world They will

Stop at other ports before seeing Ate Atlantic coast of the United States rise before their eyes, but the stay at Manila which ended today was the last long sojourn of the fleet before reach Ing home. The last leave-taking of the military and civil officers stationed here with the men of the fleet was a simple cere mony. in the presence of an assemblage of Americans and well known natives Governor Smith in a short speech extended to Admiral Sperry and his men the best wishes of the islanders for a safe and pleasant voyage to the homeland. In reply the admiral returned his thanks for the hospitality shown to himself and his men and expressed their wishes for the con tinued prosperity and peace of the Islands under Governor Smith s administration. As the heavy smoke began to ascend from the smokestacks of the Connecticut, flagship of the fleet, and the kicking up of the water under her stern proclaimed the fact that her propellers had begun to move for the beginning of the end of the great cruise tremendous cheers and shouts of good wishes In various tongues arose from the crowds lining the shores of the bay. It seemed as though all Manila and its suburbs had turned out to wish the vessels godspeed. Not even the enormous groups that lined the shores of Sydney harbor and gave our vessels so royal a sendoff at the Australian port were more enthusiastic than the Manila crowd.

ADMIRAL SPERRY.