The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-01
CHANGE IN COMMANDS
EVANS SUCCEEDS BARKER WITH
 NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET.
Booming of Mighty Guns in Pensacola Harbar Announced Retirement of an Admiral to Pri-
 yate Life.

Pensacola, Fla, March 31.-(Special) Blooming of great cannon in the har-
 bor at 10 o'clock this morning an- nounced that the change in commands of the North Atlantic Squadron had taken place, and that after seven years of commanding the most formidable fleet of battleships, Rear Admiral AL bert S. Barker, by operation of the age limit, was remanded to private life. He left at noon today for Washington, D. O.. where his family resides. He is succeeded by Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, who in the fight at Santiago commanded the batt1eship Iowa and who at that time, by his fighting prow ess. gained the title of Fighting Bob" This officer is not stranger in Pen sacola, and he is certainly not a stran- ger to the scores of naval officers who are now leisurely enjoying life here. Rear Admiral Evans reached the city yesterday and at once betook himself to the battleship Maine, which today became the flagship of the squadron. Nothing in the shape of a naval well come was accorded until this morning when the colors were hauled down from Rear Admiral Barker's flagship. the Kearsarge, and the blue pennant with the two stars was hoisted to the pin Inacle of the Maine. Then the booming of cannon began and ceased not until twenty-two guns had belched forth.
 The day was ideal for such a cere- mony. With "a cool southeast wind blowing and the sun shining brilliant ly, bringing the mercury up to the 60- degree point, the crowded decks of the |warships presented a beautiful scene. The ceremony was witnessed by a num-
 Fer of Pensacola people, who after the charge was made enjoyed a luncheon on the Maine. The Kearsarge was an- chored in midstream and fin plain view from the docks. During the ceremony the general public was denied admission to the vessels, for the visiting hours are between 1 and 5 p. m. That rule did not prohibit, however, numerous small boats from lounging around the big fighters and affording many excur- sionists from an outward view of the ceremony.
 From the excursion boats there was nothing out of the way shown in the life of the big ships. Sailors scurried about the decks with the usual rapid ity, all in white uniform. Drilling on decks is a morning occurrence with the exception of Sundays, and 1t Is not unusual to see the entire crew going through the evolutions. This has been noted a number of times by Pensaco- Hans, and so unconcerned did the sea- men act that there was rumor start ed that the ceremonies had been called off for the day.
 Very soon the bugle called the men to attention and then the ceremonies began in due form. There was no speech making, simply the transfer of the commands and the adieus of the naval officers when the transfer had been finished. In small boat the col ors were conveyed from the Kearsarge to the Maine, while eleven guns from the Kearsarge belched forth. This rattle of shots came from the S-inch rifles ranged along the sides of the ship. As the flag went to the topmast of the Maine. another eleven guns spoke out, this time coming from the latter ship.
 The officers and men aboard the Maine were ranged up in fine order and the usual courtesies were ex- changed then and there. The Maine Is in command of Capt. W. s. Cowles, who Is a brother-in-law to President Roosevelt. and this fact attracted no little attention and played no little part fin the ceremonies today.
 The assumption of command by Rear Admiral Evans will not change the present known plans of the squadrons It is given out that the ships are at Pensacola for two months, and that the present number will be consider ably enlarged before the end of next week. Pilots were this afternoon watching out for the flagship Texas of