Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-18
WILL FRATERNIZE IN PACIFIC
Note of Sadness in French Festivities
Because of the Georgia Disaster.
ACCIDENTS CANNOT BE AVOIDED
Yankee Sailors Delighted With the
Courtesies Showered Upon Them
by the French People.

The New York Herald in It's cable dis
patch from Paris says:
The picture that impressed of Rear
Admiral Charles H. Stockton when l met
him in the Continental Hotel this morning
that of man with the honest blue
eyes of sailor that still have the trick of
a merry twinkle, close-cropped yellow
sailors beard and the sturdy. ure-footed
walk of the quarterback.
1T was a great disappointment to u.s.
said Rear Admiral Stockton, that the Bor-
deaux celebration fell through. We regret
ted deeply that the President of France, on
account of disturbances. could not visit our
two ships. which are types of American
vessels
While the main celebration did not come
off, we have been treated with so much
courtesy and consideration by the French
people that our cruise to France has been
anything but in vain.
Japanese Situation.
When 1 asked Rear Admiral Stockton to
express an opinion as to the Japanese sit
uation, he said:
That Is good deal like handling dyna-
mite Professional etiquette prohibits me
from expressing my personal opinion. A
few words or "a slight jeer might explode
a big mine.
There is no doubt in my mind. however.
that the fleet will go to the Pacific. have
thought that right along"
do you think Admiral Dewey should be
put in command of it," was asked.
y hardly see it is necessary" said the
rear admiral. His presence might be re-
garded aggravating. Unless he chooses
to go active service. the regular COM
mander of the fleet would be amply able to
take charge.
I'm all these festivities the French nation
hos -l.f nod Ir1a1 hn
admiral. there is a note of sadness.
refer to the unfortunate explosion on the
Georgia. 1t seems little harsh to talk or
even think of gayeties in Paris when we
should be in mourning. Young Goodrich
was the son of one of my warmest friends. -
Accidents Must Happen.
Accidents on warships sure to hap
pen, are they not?' asked.
THAT is very true" said Rear Admiral
Stockton. land The ratio of such accidents
is increasing every day.
In spite of accidents and general knowl-
edge that naval gunnery is a dangerous oc-
cupation, there is no hesitancy on the part
of the in the navy to take it up. The
men fairly clamor for places in the tur-
rets knowing full we'll what the penalty
may be. That is a spirit all Americans can
well he proud Of
Does the present development of the
navy meet your apprOval?' / asked.
Il think far material goes we are
doing very nicely" said the rear admiral.
The main thing now is to train the person
mel to fit the enlarged requirements of the
service. You see. We have expanded rather
rapidly, and with big increase still fur
Their in ships 1t will be necessary to have
the right sort af men to ma them"
Recruits From Interior.
as there any difficulty in recruiting?"
Scarcely that. although il is a singular
fact that majority of the men come from
interior states. You will be surprised to
know that Oklahoma is the best recruiting
point We have"
DO cowboys make good salors?''
Indeed they do-horse marines | suppose
a humoriSt would call them. But the west
ern influence on the personnel of the navy
undoubtedly has much to do with the &C
curacy of gunfire and tie remarkable rec
ords men have made in target practice"
Rear Admiral Stockton will take his
squadron from Brest directly back to New
York, leaving on July %. On arriving at
New York the squadron will be disbanded
and Rear Admiral Stockton will return to
shore duty.
The squadron will not visit England. 1t
was detailed purely as a naval compliment
to France and its commander believes it
should visit no other country.
I'VE had delightful visits at all ports we
touched" continued the rear admiral AT
La Rochelle the people had rarely seen any
French war vessels They were much
pleased to know there was a New Rochelle
In America. | uid not tell them it was not q
seaport, and that the quickest way to reach
1t was by way of the Bronx river"