The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-25
the SQUADRON has SAILED.
LEAVES OLD POINT COMFORT
eAt ON LONG CRUISE.
The Farewell Of the Presitlcnt---G Great
Naval Spectacle I'm Chesapeake Bay
Yesterday--Ffncst Fleet Under One
Commanll.sr.

Cosumantl,sr.
Old Point Comfort. Va. Dec. 1s.-
sixteen hard-hitting. steel-be.ted
American battleships. gun-bristiing
and burly of girth. but sparkling
white In their immaculate dressings
OF peace. sailed away today under
the dazzling sun OF O cioudiess winter
sky on their famous twn-sea expedi-
tions OF $4,000 miles along foreign
shores and changing climes to the
wese coast OF the United States.
Prssidsnt Roosevelt. on the bridge of
his cruiser yacht. the Mayaower. per-
sunally reviewed the magnificent
four-mils lins Of lighting vessels dur
ing the fsrst stage Of their journey.
Prom the anchorage ground In
Hampton Roads to the horseshoe
bend Of Chesapeaks bay his eagle
crsstsd nas os blue pointed the way
- the navy's new home at the Golden
Cate Then. when the wide reaches
Of ths sea were visible through the
wide swung capes Of virginia ne
turned aside and coming to anchor
reviewed the passing pageant.
The boom Of saluting cannon mark
ID the departure OF the fieet-pre-
ssnting TO the people who watched q
spectacie they viii never forget and
o. the world ct large the reality Of
the trimmsst. NEST thoroughly equip
ped assemblage Of ,frst class battle
ships ever gathered In one command.
There was not ship in the line
old enough to have ,smelled the pow
der OF Manila or Santiago -stories
written scarcely 10 years ago in the
history of nations. All were modern
OF design and armament.
the trili Of the beautiful marine
picture was felt until the last wind
blown shred Of smoke was lost on
the horizon. At'e
The sailing Of the feet wal, preced-
Cd by reception on the quarter deck
Of the Mayfower. which shortly az
ter 9 o'clock this morning steamed
into the centre Of the anchored fieet.
President Roosevelt was greeted by
the four rear admirals and the IS
commanding Officers Of the feet as
nthsy climed mp the starboa',d gang
= of the yacht. He had word of
snce End well wishing for all.
n6s no formal address,.
Inspiring sight OF the vessels,
Fessed at anchor and waiting
kd to 90. put the president in
pod spirits. While the May
~ was coming into position and
waitiy Cor the reception TO begin.
the pr~sAent paced rapidly up and
down tho dcks, anxious % obtain a
view Of tho great double squadron
from every possible vantage point.
Did yor ever see such fleet and
such a day? Isn't 1T magnificent?
oughtn't we oil to feel proud" ex-
claimed the president In the midst
OF the reception to the higher o0cers
he sent for the coxswain OF the
Iouisiana's launch and through him
dispatched special message Of
greeting 60 that ships crew. When
the surprised and embarrassed cox
swain. Seaman william Chandler. had
been presented to Mrs. Roosevelt as
wen a. to the president. and led
again clambored into his launch. the
) PRECEDENT said to those about him:
Il tell you your enlisted men are
everything. They are perfectly bully
and they are up to everything requir-
ed of them. This Is indeed a great
nset and a great day"
Admiral Evans. commander-in-
chief OF the departing feet. was the
nrst Of She fiag oficers to come over
the side Of me Mayhower. He hurried
to where the president stood waiting
and bringing his right hand to salut-
!, irag position paid his formal respects
and rave his personal assurance that
the ships of his command were ready
for their trip to the other side Of the
hsmisphere.
Prss!dent Roosevelt acknowledged
the salute with lifted hat and accept
"a the formal words of greeting as
stimy as they were uttered. Then
with the brief ceremony ended. ne
srssped Admiral Evans hand Cand
save II the heartiest Of shakes. The
two conversed together informally
Tor a moment or two until other ar
riving nag and commanding officers
Set the. reception into full swing
When Admiral Evans was about to
take his leave and get the fleet un-