The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-15
AWAIT SIGNAL OF PRESIDENT Big Battleships Ready to
 Sail ALABAMA IS A FLAGSHIP Evans Thanks People for Their
 "God-Speed," On Account of Extreme Rough Weath- CT, the Final Social Festivities
 on Board Vessels were
 Called or.
ALABAMA IS A FLAGSHIP

Fort Monroe. Va, Dec. 14.--A day of changing storm. fog and sunshine found the Pacinc- bound Atlantic fleet within thirty-six hours of sailing. snugly at anchor in the roadstead awaiting the coming of the President on Monday morning to say his official adieu as commander-in-cnief of the American army and navy.
 The treacherous weather interfered to q great extent with the social pro- gram outlined for the day and neces- sitated an abandonment of the recep- tion and dance which was to have been held on the canopied quarterback of the flagship Connecticut tonight. This was to have been the most pic- turesque and unique entertainment of the nayy's farewell week and its can- cellation was a source of much disap- pointment.
 Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. com mander of the fleet, was ashore much of the day, having recovered from the slight indisposition he suffered during the early part of the week. He de- clared that the sixteen ships were ready to weigh anchor at any time. In an interview with the Associated Press he said:
 You ask me on the eve of the de- parture of the fleet to give you some words to lay before the people of the United States l therefore ask you to convey to the people the sincere thanks and hearty appreciation of the officers and men of the fleet 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 in- terest in past years in creating and maintaining this splendid fleet and the continuation of that interest which now fits us out complete in every par ticular aid sends out on this great practice cruise to visit our friends and supporters on the Pacific coast of our country. am sure that every ofhcer and man in the fleet will feel 1t not only duty but a pleasure to repay the people for their interest by abso- iute fidelity to the trust imposed upon him In small things as well as in large.
 T hope when we arrive at our des- tination. the people will have for us 9 welcome as warm as is the God speed wfR Rn they give us on our departure and that eheiild our conamander-iTi- : chief then decide Co send us to the oth- CT Hen1isphere, then the warm inter- est will follow us there in the future as it always has in the past" sss.. .,
 It has been repeatedly rumored that the fleet might eventually circle the globe.
 A conference of the ordnance officers of the various ships was called on the Connecticut today by Lieutenant Com- mander Ridley Mclean. the fleet ord nance oficer, but it was postponed un- til tomorrow on account of the storm. With each ship carrying the greatest amount of explosives ever stored un-' der the American flag, the ordnance of- ncers hold position of peculiar re- sponsibility.
 Being in cruising trim with every thing above decks snug and tight, the fleet did not feel the stiff southeastern breeze which swept the coast last night and turned the usually placid anchor age ground into a choppy sea. The ship launches running to the division fiagships and to the shore were buffet ed about in lively fashion, however, throughout the morning.
 Toward noon the wind slackened and yeersd and the fleet suddenly was lost to view in blinding fog. The shrill whistles of the flying launches sent up a terrible din of warning while the fog bells aboardship added some what melancholy undertope to the up- rear in the harbor. After an hour or two, the fog lifted as suddenly as it fell and the fleet bursting into view made A magnificent marine spectacle. The sun was not long after this finding its way through the cloud banks and then the immaculate slues or tue pat tleships glistened dazzling white.
 This afternoon the football team from the Kansas won the champion ship of the fleet by defeating the Yer mont eleven by a score of to 3. The game was played on rain-soaked turf with miniature lakes scattered here and there on the gridiron.
 There is some disappointment in the fleet that President Roosevelt will not aP tho uaaSaIS MandaU Fla will find the navy at its very best but the deck of a battleship is a familiar ground to the chief. executive and he has every confidence in the report of the various officials expressed in the word Ready"
 The fleet is divided into two squad divisions The first and second divisions are in the first squadron and