27 FEBRUARY 1909, Page 1
On Monday the American battleship fleet which has cruised round
the world returned to Hampton Roads, and was received by Mr. Roosevelt at the spot from which it started fourteen months ago. In the course of his speech of welcome Mr. Roosevelt said :—" You have falsified every prediction of failure made by the prophets. In all your long cruise not an accident worthy of mention has happened to a single battle- ship, nor yet to the cruisers or torpedo-boats. You left this coast in a high state of battle efficiency, and you return with your efficiency increased as a war machine Wherever you have landed you have borne yourselves so as to make us at home proud of being your countrymen." The New York correspondent of the Times says that the estimated cost of the cruise is £4,000,000.
