The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-12-24
HOW THE BIG
FLEET STARTED

OLD POINT COMFORT, Va, Dec. 16
Sixteen hard hitting steel beIted
American battleships, guns bristling
and burly Of girth but sparkling white
in their immaculate dressings Of peace,
started away today under the dazzling
sun of a cloudless winter sky on their
famous twin sea expedition of $4,000
miles. along foreign shores and chang
ing climes to the west coast of the
United States President Roosevelt.
on the bridge of his cruiser yacht, the
Mayflower, personally led the magnfi-
cent four mile line of fighting vessels
during the first stage of the voyage
From the anchorage ground in Hamp-
ton roads to the horseshoe bend OF
Chesapeake bay his eagle crested flag
of blue pointed the way to the fleets
new home at the Golden gate Then,
when the wide reaches of the sea were
visible through the wide swung capcs
of Virginia. he turned aside and came
to anchorage and reviewed the passing
pageant
There was not ship in the line Old
enough to have smelled the powder or
taken the shot Of Manila or Santiago
stories written scarcely 10 years ago
in the history Of nations. Ali were of
new design, samples OF the aggressive
sea going navy which the president
has reclared to be so essential to the
peace of the country.
Attaches of foreign legations and
embassies at Washington and many
correspondents who have seen war SER
vice on foreign journals freely declared
that today's naval display was the
most impressive they had ever seen.
The sailing of the fleet was preceded
by a reception on the deck of the May
flower. which shortly after s o'clock
this morning steamed into the center
of the anchored fleet President
Roosevelt warmly greeted the four
rear admirals and the I6 commanders
of the fleet as they climbed from dane
ing launches up the starbOard gang
way of the yacht. He had word Of
confidence and well wishing for all,
but made no formal address. The
president felt that the occasion did not
call for any such remarks, as the
cruise just undertaken is officially re-
sarded as but a detail of naval train
ing
The inspiring sight of the vessels
| ut n O
the word to go put the president in
rare good spirits. While the Mayfow-
er was coming into position and wait
ing for the reception to begin the
president paced rapidly up and down
the deck. anxious to obtain a view of
the great double squadron from every
possible vantage point To Secretary
of the Navy Metcalf and to others of
his guests on board he was constantly
eXclaiming upon the beauty and grain
deur of the surrounding scenes.
Admiral Evans. COMMANDER in chief
of the departing fleet, was the first
of the flag officers to be piped over the
lside of the Mayhower. He hurried &c
where the president stood waiting, and
bringing his right hand to saluting
position, paid his formal respects and
gave his personal assurance that the
ships of his command were ready fol
their trip to the other side of the
hemisphere.
President Roosevelt acknowledged
the salute with lifted hat and accepted
the formal words of greeting as stiff,
as they were uttered. Then, with tn
, brief ceremony ended he grasped AID
, mira Evans hand and gave it tn
a heartiest of shakes. The two con
versed together informally Tor mo
ment or two until other arriving fla
and commanding officers set the recep
ton in full swing,
= When Admiral Evans was able I
}, take his leave and get the fleet unde
= way, the president followed him to tn
= gangway and then called him aside fo
: nearly five minutes of earnest CONVEX
:. sation. The president spoke with hi
usual emphasis and the admiral lister
l. ed intently, with a constant affirmauiv
s nod of his head
a The Mayfiower swung around tn
water battery of Fort Monroe and int
, Hampton roads shortly after o'clocl
: The saluting guns Of the army post
were the first to signal the arrival
the president and his party. Twenty
Y one times the cannon overlooking til
l. picturesque mOat of this famous oil
Z army stronghold voiced their notes
d welcome. The white naval yacht kel
l. silently on her way accepting tn
salute as her due and as requiring Il
outward form of recognition.
The Connecticut. flying the flag
- Rear Admiral Evans. commanding Il
trip, was first TO speak to the pres
? dent. Her starboard and port salu
If ing guns began alternately to proclai
III their respect and duty to the nation
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