Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-12-21
THE BIG FLEET is OFF
War Ships Steam Away in Grand
Pageant
A GRAND AND INSPIRING SIGHT
Great Battleships Pass from Roads In
Majestic Phalanx, After Thur
derino Final Salute.


lie fleet. as the president Of the
United states has styled IT. It made
no fuss ana feathers Of the business
sof getting away.
There were ceremonies rendered
necessary by the presence 81 the pres
ident to see its departure but these
were completed in short order, and
then the grim battle ships sixteen Of
shp1n, an Of modern type ana sugges-
tree Of strength and power, steamed
their way out to sea and were start
ed on the long yoS age TO the Pacific.
80 such aggre cation Of fighting
craEt ever left an American port be-
fore. Thirteen thousand officers and
men are aboard the sixteen yesse,s,
whose tonnage makes a startling to-
Kal, ana whose guns number none
tnan SOC
The circumstances under which the
voyage was determined the mystery
surrounding the ultimate purpose n
the fleet, the widespread comment
aroused at home and abroad over this
notable expedition, and the pic
turesque features connect d with its
departure all served to make the
days events a historical occasion
Sailing Was Impressive.
The sailing was not spectacular,
however. or rather its spectacular
features We're lost sight of in the sim
pie hnpressiyeness Of the closing
scene To see those gigantic vessels
moving away from the shore slowly
and maiestieally, preserving an align
ment that made the land fox marvel,
was something never to forget Four
miles eli beautiful ships, their hulls of
purest white glided seaward as If it
were inst part of the days work and
not worth bothering about It was
this calm business-like way of doing
things that made it Impressive.
President Roosevelt tod people out
on the Mayflower that the sight of the
feet caused him to be prouder than
ever Of our navy Other people were
saying ne same thing. There was a
patriotic spirit in the air that caught
its inspiration from those sixteen
giants Of the sea as they sailed in
calm majesty.
In Gay Comparison.
Checks ana watches ashore said it
was three minutes past eight when. at
signal from the Connecticut Ad-
miral Evans nagship, every vessel in
The fleet spread her gorgeous raiment
Of gaudy ,signal aags-red yellow
blue. White, crimson, black and
green.
For half an hour or more the May
flower hal been observed in the near
distance. When she came near
enough for those aboard the nearest
ship to detect that the pennant she
flew was that Of the President OF the
United states, puff Of smoke came
from the side Of the Connecticut Be
fore those on shore had tim to hear
the report, there were other puffs Of
smoke. and in a few seconds the en-
Slre feet was banging away
Every ship CT the sixteen There
Tired the presidential salute OF twenty
one guns. Sixteen times twenty-one
loud reports is some noise Every
ship banged away like good fellow,
each trying, apparently, to get through
first. When the echo Of the last shot
died away the Mayflower was abreast
sof Fort Monroe.
The President Arrives.
by the time the soldiers had finish
ed their greetings to the president the
Mayhower was abreast the two ships
nearest the shore. There were the Con
necticut and the Minnesota, each
heading a column of eight vessels, Be
tween the columns the presidents
yacht steamed with a dignity that
fitted the occasion.
AS the Mayflower glided by silently
and with dignity, attended by two
grim black beetles the torpedo
boats Tingey and standardization
and men raised their right hands in
silent salute, while the marines
brought their rifles silently to pre-
sent
Mayfower at Anchor.
When the Mayfiower reached a
point midway between the two col
umns Of battle ships she came to a
standstiE.
Greetings on tie part of he Dresi.
dent and Admira Evans are givan, a
few earnest parting words Exchanged,
and the last goodbye" is aiG Mrs.
y "A