Photo #: NH 68873 (complete caption)
"Great White Fleet" World Cruise, 1907-1909
Sailors of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet march through the streets
of Yokohama, Japan and are greeted with Japanese school children
waving United States and Japanese flags, and singing "The
Star-Spangled Banner" in Japanese, October 1908.
Courtesy of Harry Howard, 1969.
Mr. Howard, who was a crew member of USS Kansas (Battleship
# 21) during the "Great White Fleet"'s World cruise,
provided the following comments (which have been slightly edited)
with this photograph:
"Upon landing the large crowds cheered us and waved American
flags, and we were soon on our way to the beautiful park. The
streets were thronged with thousands (of) excited people. Turning
to one of the main streets a sight at once touching and dazzling
was revealed to us. Thousands of school children massed a living
wall, each carrying silk American and Japanese flags and bouquets
of flowers awaiting our approach. At a pre-arranged signal their
childish voices filled the air with the characteristic Banzai,
and the sea of flags rose and fell, a mass of vivid colors, which,
together with the gorgeous kimonos worn by the girls and the
floral decorations, formed a picture not soon to be forgotten."
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 660 pixels |
 |