Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-12-20
ONAPEACE CRUISE
Great Squadron Leaves Hamp-
ton Roads For the Pacific
l6 UP-TC-DATE WARSHIPS
President. as Commander, Leads
Pageant In FIRST Stage oflts Journey
and Reviews Its Sa,ling--Has Good
Word or The Enlisted Mn

Old Point Comfort. Va. Dec. H.
Sixteen American battieships. huge,
modern, bristling with guns, hut
sparkling white in dressings of peace.
sailed away yesterday under the daz-
Zling sun of a "ouGlesS winter sky, on
their notable tv ms III expedition of H.
900 miles along foreign shores and
through changing climates to the west
coast of the United States.
President Roosevelt, on the bridge of
the Mayflower, personally led the mag
nificent four-mile line of fighting yes
sells in the first stage of the voyage.
When the wide reaches of the sea were
visible through the Capes of Virginia
he turned aside and, coming to anchor
age. reviewed the passing marine pa
geant.
The blue of the sky. the stretch OF
blue sea. the glistenug of spotless
hulls, the curling of waves before the
swift bows. the cheering of sailors afioat
and friends ashore. the breeze blown
strains of Aud Lang Syne." the blare
of trumpets. the rutfe Of drums. the
flash of signals and the boom of salut
Ing guns marked the departure of the
fleet, presenting to the people who
watched a spectacle they Will never for
| get and to the world ut large the real
! ity of the trimmest. most homoGe nous.
most thoroughly equipped aud most mo-
bile assemblage of tirst-cass battle
ships ever gathered under one &C II
mand.
There WAS not n ship in the line which
even smelled powder in Manila bay or
off ntiagO-eVents scarcely ten years
ago in the history of naval nations. All
were new IN design and armament
examples of the aggressive sea-colng
navy which the president has declared
is so essential to the peace vi the coun-
try.
The facility with which the big yes
sells We're handled, the manner in which
they We're Unanswered into single col
umn formation aud the perfect Align
ment which was maintained TO the
southwark turn from the capes called
forth the warmeSt admiration. The
thrill Of the beautiful marine picture
was felt until the last windblown
spiral of smoke was lost on the horizon
The sailing Of the fleet was preceded
by a reception on the quarterback Of
the Maytiower, which steamed into the
centre of the anchored fleet President
Roosevelt warmly greeted the four rear
admiralS and the sixteen commanding
officers of the fleet as they climbed up
the starboard gangway of the yacht
He had Il word of confidence and good
wishes for all. but he made no forma
address He felt that the occasion did
not call for any such remarks. because
the cruise IS officially regarded as bu
detail of naval training
In the midst of the reception to tbs
higher officers the president sent fol
the coXswain of the Louisiana's launcl
and through him dispatched a specia
message of greeting to that ships
crew. 1t was on the Louisiana tina
the president made his recent trip Il
the Isthmus of Panama and ever sine,
in all the ship has done. II tell you oul
enlisted men are everything" said tn,
president to those about him. 1.-THE,
are perfectly bully and they are up I,
everything required of them This |,
indeed a great fleet and great day"
Admiral Evans. commander in chic