The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1907-12-19
UNDER COMMAND OF REAR
ADMIRAL EVANS.
President Roo1svelt Went to Old Point
Comfort to Give Command Starting
Atlantic Fleet for Pacifc-Revisw
Inside the Bay-World's Greatest
Armada in Perfect Condition.

welt and q distinguished company OF
guests, sailed on the naval yacht May.
flower from the Washington navy yard
at 3:07 o'clock Sunday for Hampton
Roads. The president in his capacity
as commander in chief of the United
States navy gave the word Of com
mand which sent the Atlantic battle
ship feet on its cruise to the Pacific.
As the ships passed out to sea their
last farewell was from the president.
On the deck Of the Mayflower he lead
the ships through the Virginia capes,
then gave way to the flagship Con.
necticut as the double line OF 16 iron
clads set their course to the south
ward.
Thus began what the president has
planned as the supreme test of the
American navy. The announced des-
tination of the feet is San Francisco
bay, but when and. where the cruise
will ultimately end seems as yet an un-
matured plan for the future.
Sailed at 10 O'Clock.
Old Point Comfort, Va, Dec. 49,
The Pacific-bound Atlantic feet left
Monday morning on It's journey
through the straits of Magellan en-
route, as the official order reads, "for
the west coast of the United States.
Rear Admiral Evans, commander in
chief of the feet, the most notable of
American peace expeditions, boarded
the Mayflower and paid his respects to
the president and was Immediately fol-
lowed by the other flag and command
ing officers of the feet.
The receptions and the journeys of
the admirals and captains to and from
the Mayflower lasted more than an
hour, and half hour more was con-
sumed in lifting anchor and getting
the ships in position for the start,
which was made about 10 o'clock Two
hours later the first of the long line of
vessels cleared the Virginia capes and
turned her course to the southwark.
The review of the passing fleet by the
president took place near Thimble
shoal lighthouse, 10 miles down the
bay.
Saturday night the 16 smoking bat
tleships were bathed in moonlight, the
view down the long twin lines of the
feet being most impressive
The enlisted force Of each ship, num-
bering nearly thousand men to the
company, was lined up at quarters to
listen to the reading of the articles of
war.
The men seemed deeply impressed,
as they were also with more personal
words which came in orders from Adj
niral Evans, the commander in chief,
and from the rear admirals on board
the three divisional flagships. Every
man was told what his duty was to his
country, to his flag and to his superior
officers. They were cautioned to up
hold the dignity of their uniform when
going ashore at South American ports
| and always conduct themselves in an
orderly and sober manner After the
articles of war had been read the chap
lains of the several ships read from
the Bible at divine worship
| I'VE could not take on another
pound Of provisions said one officer
unless we followed the very bad ex.
ample Of the Russians, who were
caught by the Japanese with eight.
inch gun turrets stored with hams and
powder chambers filed with caviare.'
| Severarscouting parties were ashore
looking for pines to be used as Christ
mas trees. Nearly all were successful
an dthe little pines will be carefully
slowed away until after Trinidad lis
reached on Christmas eve.
Although bound for an extended tou1
of duty in the Pacific ocean the feet
still retains its title of the united
States Atlantic feet" under which
designation the last sailing orders
have been issued.
| Later Report.
Old Point Comfort, Va, Dec. 16.--
Sixteen hard-hitting, steel bolted Amer.
loan battleships, bristling and burly OF
girth, but sparkling white in the i'm,
maculate dressings Of peace, started
away today under the dazzling sun OF
cloudless winter sky on their famous
twin-sea expedition Of $4,000 miles,
along foreign shores and changing
climes, to the west coast Of the United
States.
There was not q ship in the line old
enough to hare smelled the powder OF
taken the shot of Manila or Santiago
stories written scarcely 10 years ago
in the history OF nations. All were
modern OF design, examples Of the ag-
gressive sea-going navy, which the
president has declared to be 60 essen
tial to the epace Of the country.