The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15

Fort Monroe. Va. Dec. 4-Every ship
Of the feet is loaded down TO the water
line, and every preparation for sailing on
Monday. when President Roosevelt gives
the starting order. is finished.
The ships could now start at mo-.
ments notice The officers and crews are
impatient to be of. Social ties alone re-
strain this impauence 10 feel the throb
Of the screws of The ships.
The attitude Of officers and men toward
the long cruise is revealed officially BIZ
this formal statement. issued to the
newspaper men this afternoon by Rear
Admiral Robley D. Evans, the com
mander-in-chief Of the feet:
The AdmIraFs Message.
You ask me, on the eve Of the de-
parture OF the fleet, to give you some
words 10 lay before the people of the
United States. I therefore ask you TO
convey TO the people the sincere thanks
and hearty appreciation OF the officers
and men Of the feet for the great in
terest which the country at large Is
taking in our movements. We feel the
responsibility which the people have laid
upon us by their interest in past years
in creating and maintaining this splendid
fleet, and IN the continuation Of that in
terest which now fits US out complete I'm
every particular and sends Us out on this
great practice cruise to visit our friends
and supporters on the Pacific Coast OF
our country.
7 am sure that every officer and man
in the fleet viii feel 10 not only duty.
but pleasure. TO repay the people for
their interest by absolute fidelity 10 the
trust imposed upon him IN small things.
as well as in large.
Hopes for Warm Welcome.
7 hope that when we arrive home the
people VIII have for US a welcome rs
warm as is the 'God-speed' which they
give rs on our departure. and that. should
our Commander-iR-chief then decide 10
send Us o. a mission Of peace and good
wiz 70 the nations Of the other hemis-
phere- the same warm interest viii
follow there in the future as it always has
in the past
The reference 20 a possible mission OF
peace and good Viii 10 the nations Of the
other hemisphere indicates better than
anything that has been said yet by an
authority what the real destination Of the
fleet IS 10 be-
II is denied that even Admiral Evans
knows where the ships are going after
they reach San Francisco. He has told
his officers that he has no information
on the subject That is true. strictly
speaking. but there is not the slightest
doubt that very officer from the highest
to the lowest believes that the real desti-
nation Of the fleet is the Philippines. and
that only one-half Of the ships viii come
home.
Destiny of the Ships.
Those which DO come back viii make
the trip by way Of Sgez Il viii. there
fore. be a round-the-world trip for one
half the feet. The new battle ships that
are coming out on the Atlantic coast
within q year viii augment the Atlantic
fleet 20 twelve OF fourteen battle ships.
The result will be two battle fleets. as
President Roosevelt designated this feet
within "A year or eighteen mOnths-one ma
the Atlantic and the other in the Pacific.
Another significant thing that fairly
startled every man on these ships was an
order that came from Washington yes
terday 20 leave behind every Japanese
steward and cook on the ships Il was a
surprise. but much as these servants are
rated individually there was no regret
from the officers Every officer said he
was glad of il. and when he said il
there was usually peculiar CLINT in his
eye that may be interpreted by each ac-
cording 90 his own peculiar temperament.
The japanese didn't like it. Some OF
them wept. for they are deeply attached
to their officers They were sent to re-
ceiving ships. II these ships ever go 20
Japan there viii be no japanese servants
oa them 70 whisper tales. The order to
discharge them caused many a man to
guess. more or less wisely, as 10 where
the fleet is going.
Give Way to Pleasure
Old Point Comfort never saw more
spirited scenes than are taking place at
the Hotel Chamberlin. It is literally
crowded to the doors with the sweet
hearts and wives OF the officers Last
night a farewell reception took place. A
fierce storm came up. and scores OF Off
Gers could not reach their ships because
the launches could nor weather the gale.
Early arrivals this morning bedraggled
and seasick from the heavy seas OF the
Chesapeake Bay. that rivaicd in rough
ness the British Channel were astOnished
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