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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

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

 

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Image posted 19 September 2008