The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-12-17
MIGHTY LINE or BATTLEsHIPs
FLOWING MAJEsTIcALLY
SOUTHWARK.
INSPIRING SIGHT
Amid Huzzas and Waving Banners
and With Presidents God speed
the Fleet Leaves Hampton Roads
While Crowds, Cheering, Line the
Shore.

Old Point Comfort, Dec. 16.-Six-
teen hard-hitting, steel-belted Ameri-
can battleships, guns bristling and
burly of girth, but sparkling white in
their immaculate dressings Of peace,
started away today under the daz-
zling sun of cloudless winters da1
on their famous twin sea expedition
of $4,000 miles along foreign shores
and changing climes, to the west
coast Of the United States.
President Roosevelt, on the bridge
of his cruiser, the Mayfower, per-
sonally led the magnificent four-mile
line of fighting vessels during the
first stage of the voyage. From the
anchorage ground in Hampton Roads
to the horseshoe bend Of Chesapeake
river, his eagle-crested flag of blue
pointed the way to the fleets new
home at the Golden Gate
When the wide reaches of the sea
were visible through the wide-swung
capes of Virginia, he turned aside
and coming to anchorage, reviewed
the passing pageant.
The blue of the sky, the stretch Of
great sea miles, the glistening of spot
less hulls, the curl of the foam.
crested bow waves, the cheering Of
sailors afoat and friends ashore, the
breeze blowing strains of "Auld Lang
Syne," the blare of trumpets, the ruff
fe Of drums, the flash Of signals and
the boom of saluting cannons marked
the departure Of the fleet, presenting
to the people who watched a specta-
Gle they will never forget and to the
world at large, the reality of the
trimmest, most thoroughly equipped,
most mobile and self-reliant Assem-.
blage of first class battleships ever
gathered in one command.
All Brand New.
There is not a ship in the line old
enough to have smelled powder or
taken shot at Manila or Santiago
stories written scarcely 10 years ago
in the history of nations. All were
modern of design, examples of the
aggressiveness of the seagoing navy
which the president has declared 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
service on foreign journals, freely de-
clare that today's naval display was
the most impressive they have ever
seen. The facility with which the
big vessels were handled, the manner
In which they were maneuvered into
single column formation and the
powerful alignment which was main
tained to the southwark turn from
The cape, called out the warmest ad-
miration. The thrill OF the beautiful
marine picture was felt until the last
wind-blown spiral Of smoke was lost
OH JuS uOElZOU.
The sailing Of the feet was pre-
ceded by a reception on the deck Of
the May1ower which, shortly after
o'clock this morning, steamed into
the center of the anchored fleet.
President Roosevelt warmly greeted
the four rear admirals and the 16
commanding officers Of the fleet as
they climbed from the dancing
launches up the starboard gangway
of the yacht. He had word Of con-
ftdence and well-wishing for all, but
made no formal address. The presi-
dent felt that the occasion did not
call for any such remarks, as the
cruise just undertaken is officially
regarded as but a detail Of naval
training.
President Pleased.
The inspiring sight Of the vessels
ga1ly dressed at anchor and waiting
the word to so, put the president in
rare good spirits. While the May.
flower was coming into position and
waiting for the reception to begin.
the president paced rapidly up and
down the deck, anxious to obtain a
view Of the great double squadron.
The president was constantly ex-
claiming about Beauty and gran
deur Of the scene" to the secretary OF
the navy.
did you ever see such fleet?
And such a day? Isn't it magnifi-
cent? oughn't we all to feel proud?"
and the president had something to
say of the enlisted men.
'T tell you our enlisted men are
everything. They are perfectly bully