Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-16
is VESSELS
IN TRIM FOR
LONG CRUISE
PRESIDENT ON HIS WAY TO
REVIEW SHIPS
START FOR PACIFIC TO BE MADE
AT 10 O'CLOCK
PowArf'I squadrons Under Command
of admiral Evans viii Begin
Journey of Fourteen Thou-
sand Miles

BY Associated Press.
OLD POINT COMFORT. Va, Dec IS.
The Pacifc-bound Atlantic fleet will
leave tomorrow morning on its journey
through the Straits Of Magellan. EN-
route, as the official order reads. for
the west coast of the United States"
The presto mt is expected to arrive in
Hampton Roads on the Mayflower shortly
after a, His coming will be timed
as near that hour as possible. with pre-
ceding it, for salutes cannot be fired be-
| fore s clock under the navy regula-
| tions.
| From the time the presidents yacht
| casts anchor in the center of the fleet,
the events of the departure will move
| rapidly. Rear Admiral Evans, command
| er-in-chief of this most notable of Amer
| lean expeditions, will repair on board the
Mayfower and pay his respects to the
president. and will be Immediately fol-
lowed by tho other flag and commanding
officers of the fleet. The reception will
| be brief and more or less informal.
| AS time will figure heavily in the
plans. the matter of precedence in rank
will be waived in favor of the officers
whose launches first happen to reach the
Mayfiowc-s gangway after Admiral Ev-
ans has gone on board. The reception and
the journeys of the admirals and cap
tains to and from the Mayfiower are ex-
|
and a half hour more will be consumed
in liftinE anchor and getting ships in
position for the start, which. 1t is ex-
pected, will be made about 10 o'clock.
| Two hours later tho first of the long line
of fighting vessels should have cleared
the Virginia cape5 and turned her course
to the southwark.
President to Review Fleet
The review of the passing fleet by the
president will take place near Thimble
Shoal lighthouse, ten miles down the
bay, and should be ended by 11:30
Threatening weather and occasional
rain squalls marked the last day of the
| fleets stay in port. But tonight cold
wind from the west dispelled the storm
clouds and the sixteen smoking bal tile
ships were bathed in moonlight. The
view down the long twin lines of the
fleet was most impressive. An occasional
searchlight flash or the red and white
glow of signal from the yardarm of
one of the big fighters, added to the pic
| turesque effect
| On shore the hotels are crowded en-
tirely beyor their capacity by wives.
| sweethearts, officials and friends. who
have come to say good by. Many of these
will have to sit up throughout the night
or lounge as best they can in the chairs
of the hotel lobbies.
A smiling sun is predicted for tomor-
row Shore liberty for the sailors ended
at 10 a. m. today, and at that hour the
enlisted lorce of each ship. numbering
nearly 1000 men to the company. was
lined up at quarters to listen to the
reading of the articles of war.
Men Greatly impressed
The men seemeC deeply impressed, as
they were also with more personal words
which came in orders from Admiral Ev-
ans, the commander-in-ch and from
the rear admirals on board the three di-
visional fagships. Every man was told
what his duty was to his country, to his
flag and to his superior officers. They
were cautioned to uphold the dignity of
their uniform when going ashore
South American ports, and always con-
duct themselves in an orderly AMI sober
manner.
After the articles of war had been
read, the chaplains of the several ships
read from the bible at divine worship.
A few stragglers who overstayed their
leave from vessels of the auA..ary
squadron which has preceded the battle
ship fleet to Trinidad. have recently
turned up on the flagship Connecticut,
and Admiral Evans has directed that
they be taken along until the fleet falls
in with the ships to which they belong.
Admiral Evans was ashore most of the
Gay, ana lnere were number OF in
formal receptions In the parlors Of the
Hotel Chamberlain. Many of the OFFICERS
bade their friends farewell tonight and
repaired aboard their ships. At a. M
tomorrow all must be at quarters ready
to sail.
Some belated stores were placed on
several of the ships today, vast ouan-
tity Of plum pudding going to the messes
of the Georgia and the Vermont Fresh
meat boats have placed the last supply
on board the ship.
Loaded with Provisions
1--WE could not take another pound Of
provisions, one officer today, unless we
followed the very bad example of the
Russians, who were caught by the Jap
anese with eight-inch gun turrets stored
with hams, and powder chambers filled
with caviar"
Several scouts parties were ashore to-
day looking for scrubby pines to be used
as Christmas trees. Nearly all were
successful and the little pines will be
carefully slowed away until Trinidad
is reached on Christmas eve.
A number of yachts came in to the
roadstead today with pleasure parties on
board.
Although bound for an extended tour
of duty in the Pacific ocean, the fleet.
which sails tomorrow still retains its
title of 1.-THE United States Atlantic
Fleet under which designation the last
sailing orders nave been issued.
Captain Joseph B. Murdock of the bat
tleship Rhode Island, who has been at
the bedside of his sick wife IN New York
the past week. returned to his ship to-
night and will sail tomorrow The
patient is said to have passed all danger.
Roosevelt on Way
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.President
Roosevelt, accompanied by Mrs. Rooso-
velt and a distinguished company Of
guests, sailed on the naval yacht May
flower from the Washington navay yard