Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-08
WILL SEE FLEET OFF.
President to Review Start of War
 ships to Pacific.

NaSDlng(On, Nov. S. -- I'reSlden
 Roosevelt will review the sixteen bat
 tleships of the Atlantic fleet at Hamp
 ton Roads when they are ready fo | their cruise of 13.1T2 miles to the Pa
 citic. After receiving word that all i; in readiness the president will leave Washington for Hampton Roads. atis fy himself that each of the battleships
 is ill prime condition. give last words
 of advice to Rear Admiral Evans and
 his men and then wish them godspeeG
 on their journey.
 Preparations in keeping with the i'm.
 portance of the event are to be made
 for the fleets departure. Admiral
 Dewey. Secretary Metcalf. Assistant
 Secretary Newberry, Rear Admiral
 Brownson, chief of the bureau of navi.
 gation; Rear Admiral Converse, presi-
 dent of the board of naval Construc-
 tiOn. and the respective heads of the
 different bureaus of the navy depart
 ment will probably accompany the
 president and join in the farewell cere-
 monies on Dec. 16, when the fleet
 leaves. In view of the elaborate pro gramme arranged there has been some talk of having the fleet assemble in New York harbor.
 The president has announced only to intimate friends his intention of see ing the fleet off.s He will leave aboard the Mayfower, probably on Wednes- day. Dec. II. after receiving word from Rear Admiral Evans that the, battle ships are ready to start. Details for the review and the farewell pro- gramme have not matured, but the president contemplates entertaining Rear Admiral Evans, the division coin manders and probably the captains aboard the Mayflower before their de- parture. when he will explain the ad- vantages and reasons for his ordering the cruise to the Pacific and what he expects will be accomplished for the navy.
 When the flagship Connecticut hoists anchor on Dec. Is and leads the way, the president will watch the battle ships steam past the Mayfower until the last ship has vanished from sight, when he will return to Washington.
 Present indications are that the bat. tleships will assemble in Hampton Roads on Dec. in as nearly perfect as if they had left the navy yards for the first time. Secretary Metcalf has received word from the navy yards that repair work Is being on time and that, barring some hitch, everything will he ready Tor the ships to leave on Dec 16 The bureau of equipment has finished much ,f the work authorized and will have he fire control system ready for. the installation of the instruments when he fleet arrives on the west coast; the bureau of construction and repair has 'emedied minor structural defects in lll' the ships and will continue addi. ional work until Nov. 80; the bureau If steam engineering is strengthening piping and seeing that the boilers are h first class condition. and the bureau # ordnance reports that the guns of he ships will be in as good condition IS If the fleets were cleared for action. Provisions and supplies for the men will be, taken on this month, and large quantities of smokeless powder in 4O.. O0 and j0000 pound lots shipped from ndian Head to Norfolk are ready for he feet. besides large quantity of rmor piercing shells and lighter am. intuition. Altogether preliminary plans or the cruise have worked out splen. idly. and President Roosevelt is well