The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-17
Most Impressive Scene in History. THOUSANDS CHEER AND
 GUNS BOOM SALUIES Bands Play Martial Music As Ships Clear. President Roosevelt Bids The Officers and Sailors Farewell And Re- views Fleet From The
 Bridge of the May
 

Old Point Comfort, Va. Dec, ts-~ Sixteen hard hitting steelbelted Amei~ can battleships. guns bristling and burly of girth. but sparkling white In their immaculate dressings of peaoes sailed away today under the dazzling sun of a cloudIess winters sky on their famous twin sea expedition of i4.000; miles along foreign shores and chanx~ ing climes, to the west coast of the United States.
 President Roosevelt, on the bridge ok his cruiser yacht. the Mayflower, pers sonally led the magnificent four mile line of lighting vessels during the. first stage of the voyage From the anchorage ground in Hampton Roads to the Horseshoe Bend of ChesapeAke Bay, his eagle crested flag of blue pointed the way to the fleets new home at the Golden Gate. Then. when the wide reaches of the sea were vfs- ible 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 cf green sea miles. the glistening of spof- less hulls, tho curl of foam created bow -waves. the cheering of sailors afloat and friends ashore. the breeze blown strains of "Aund Lang Syne floating across the waters, the biare of trumpets. the ruffle of drums. the flash of signals. and the boom of salut- ing cannon marked the departure or the fleet, presenting to the people who watched the spectacle they will never forget and to tho world at large, tho realization of the trimmest. snugstHt most Homogeneous. most thoroughly equipped, most mobile and self-reliant assembiage of first-cIass baftleshipe ever gathered in one command.
 All Modern Vessels.
 There was not ship in the line old enough to have smelled the powder or taken the shot of Manila or SantiaE0. storiA written scarce ten years ago in the history of nations. All were modern of design and armament, ex- amples of the aggressive sea-going 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 ser- vice lon foreign journals. freely de- clared that today's naval display was the most, impressive they had ever seen. -..
 The thrill of the beautiful marine picture was felt until the last wind blown spiral of smoke was lost on the horizon.
 The sailing of the fleet was preceded by reception on the quarterdeck oE the Mayfiower. which shortly after o'clock this morning steamed into the center of the anchored fleet. Presi< dent Roosevelt warmly greeted th& four Adnirals and the sixteen cons manding officers of the fleet as they climbed from dancing launches up the starboard gangway of the yacht. tie had a word of confidence and weii- wishing for all, but made no formal address The President felt the oc- casion did not call for any such re- marks. as the cruise just undertaken is officially regarded as but detail of naval training.
 Roosevelt Inspired.
 The inspiring sight of the vessels gaily dressed at anchor and waiting the word to go, put the President In rare good spirits. While the Nay flower was coming into position and waiting for the reception to begin. the President paced rapidly up and down the deck anxious to obtain view of the great double squadron from every possible vantage point. To Secretary of the Navy Metcalfe and to other of his guests on board, he was constantly exclaiming upon the beauty and gram deur of the surrounding scenes.
 Did you ever see such a fleet? And such a day? Isn't 1t magnificent7 Oughtnt we all to feel proud?" and then the President had something to say of tho enlisted men. In the mid&t of the reception to the higher officers. he sent for the coxSwain of the Lou- isiana's launch and through him de- spatched a special message of greeting to that ships crew. It was on the Louisiana that the President made his recent trip to the Isthmus of Panama, and every since that time he has felt a personal interest in all the ship has done. When the surprised and erz barrassed coxswain. Seaman Williams Chandler, had been presented to Mrs. Roosevelt as well as to the President. and had again clambered into his launch. the President said to those about him:
 "I tell you. our enlisted men are ev- erything. They are perfectly bully. and they are up to everything required of them. This is indeed a great fleet and a great day.
 Evans Is Greeted. ea
 Admiral Evans. commander-in- -chief of the departing fleet was the first of the flag officers to he piped' over the side of the Mayfower. He hurried to where the President stood waiting and bringing his right hand to salutins position. paid his formal respects aud gave his personal assurance that the ships of his command were ready for
  Isphere President Roosevelt acknowi- edged the salute with lifted hat and accepted the formal words of greeting as stiffly as they were uttered Then with the brief ceremony ended he grasped Admiral Evaus's hand and gave 1t the heartlest of shakes.
 The two conversed together infornl- ally for a moment or two until other arriving flag and commanding officers set the reception into full swing. When Admiral Evans was about to take hin leave and get the fleet under way, the President followed him to the gangway and then called him aside for nearly five minutes of earnest conversation The President spoke with his usual ensN phasis and the Admiral listened intent iy with a constant affirmative nod .of his head. s4sS
 During the reception the President was photogr phed with the officers grouped about him. marine guard