M atthews photo in the San Francisco Chronical

The fleet was accompanied by a large number of journalists for newspapers and magazines.  Franklin Matthews was probably the most famous providing a syndicated columnist that was carried nationally by a number of papers and reaching more than 400,000 readers each week.

His column was very up-beat and generally avoided the complexity of the political situations opting to report the excitement and adventure of the American fleet in foreign ports.  The portrait to the left is from an article written for the San Francisco Chronical during the fleet's visit.

He took the time to befriend sailors onboard the ships and was able to provide a vision of the life of a sailor in the Great White Fleet.

His published reports of the fleet's travels, particularly his articles published in The Sun of New York, were used as the substance for two books about the cruise, "With the Battle Fleet", and "Back to Hampton Roads".  Both books became extremely popular as sources for information about the cruise.  Even today his detailed accounts provide a first-person clarity to the events of the cruise that are unmatched.  Copies of his books are easily found at auction or through Amazon.com.