The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-12-20
FLEET
STARTS
FROM ATLANTIC TO THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT GAVE
THE WORD OF COMMAND
TO START.

TO START.
Washington, Dee. 16.-Presdaent
Roosevelt. accompanied by Mrs. Roose-
welt and q distinguished company OF
guests. sailed on the naval yacht May
flower from the Washington navy yard
at 3:O7 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 it's cruise to tbs Pacific.
As the ships passed out to sea their
last farewell was from the president.
On the deck of the Maytlower he lead
the ships through the Virginia capes.
then gave way to the flagship Con-
necticut as the double line Of Is 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 fleet is San Francisco
bay, but when and where the cruise
will ultimately end seems as yet an I'M
matured plan for the future.
Sailed at 10 O'Clock.
Old Point Comfort. Va, Dee. 16.-
The Battle-Ground 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"
chief of the fleet, the most notable of
American peace expeditions, boarded,
the Mayfower and paid his respects to
the president and was Immediately fol-
lowed by the other flag and command
ing officers of the fleet.
| The reception and the journeys of
the admirals and captains to and from
the Mayflower lasted more than an
hour, and a 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
| uOuI l6tlcI IuG III 81 VI luc lOAB l1uc Va
vessels cleared the Virginia capes and
turned her course to the southwark.
The review of the passing feet 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
fleet being most impressive.
The enlisted force OF each ship, num-
bering nearly a 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
miral 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
lairfs of the several ships read from
p, 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'
Several scouting parties were ashore
- looking for pines to be used as Christ
- mas trees. Nearly all were successful
an dthe little pines will be carefully
II slowed away until after Trinidad il
- reached on Christmas eve.
= Although bound for an extended toul
OF duty in the Pacific ocean the fee
still retains its title of the "Unitet
= States Atlantic fleet" under which
w. designation the last sailing order
ie have been issued.
y Later Report.
of Old Point Comfort, Va, Dec. 49,
IL. Sixteen hard-hitting, steel bolted Anne,
ia loan battleships, bristling and burly O
sc girth, but sparkling white in the i'm
st maoulate dressings Of peace, starte
81 away today under the dazzling sun @
>. a cloudless winter sky on their famou
twln-sea expedition of $4,000 miles
along foreign shores and changin
y, chimes, to the west coast of the Unite
pm States.
~ There was not ship in the line oil
enough to have smelled the powder {
taken the shot of Manila or Santlap
stories written scarcely 10 years az
in the history Of nations. All wei
modern OF design, examples of the a,
lal gressive sea-going navy, which IL