Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-12-16
TOday's Telegraphic News.
The Fleet.

The Fleet.
Fort Monroe. Va, Dec. 16.-Real
Admiral Evans, in charge of 500, 900,
600 worth of property and II, 900 men
began the longest cruise with the biggest
feet in the history of the new world
today.
The start, under President Roosevelt's
personal direction, was brilliant and i'm
pressive. Landsmen at Old Point and
near BY towns had to be up this morning
before 1t was light to keep pace with the
Rlertness Of the navy.
Lights out on the water In two psral-
lei lines indicated the position of the
sixteen battleships which were fully re-
yealed by the frat flush of dawn.
Nearest to the land was the Couneci-
cut, flag ship.
Behind her, at regular intervals, we're
the Kansas, Vermont and Louisiana.
These, with the Connecticut, made the
first division.
Behind them, in the same line, was
Rear Admiral Emory's Georgia with the
New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia,
making up the second division and COM
pleting the tirst squadron of eight ships.
At the head of the second line of eight
ships, which Is also the second squad
ron, and the third and fourth divisions,
lay the Minnesota. The other seven
ships in this group we're the Ohio,
Missouri, Maine, Alabama, Illinois,
Kearsarge and Kentucky. Admirals
Thomas and Sperryeach commanded four
of them. Spectators, crowdiDg the
whsrves and hotel piszzas found they
could not possibly see all the ships at
the same time.
The ships lay more than 200 yards
apart, which makes II more than a mile
between the first and last ships in line
OF eight. Later, when they sailed away
at fixed distances of 400 yards apart
they strung out single file in a still long
or line.
The yacht May with the Prest-
dent and Secretary Of theNavy on board,
was sighted shortly after 7 o'clock.
At 8 sharp all sixteen ships simultan-
eously fang out innumberable flags,
which are naval full diess, and as the
Msyhower came near enough to be in
.roduced, according to naval etiquette,
the feet exploded with the presidential
salute of twenty-one guns from each
ship
Then the Msyfower headed straight
between the two lines of ships and
steamed slowly to a position in the
middle of the feet. The President stood
on the May fower's bridge and as ne
came abreast, the men on each warship
lined the rail and the bands pesled the
Star Spangled Banner.
When the Msyhower came to anchor,
from the side of each battleship started q
noisy little launch, as the four admirals
and sixteen captains fastened to the
yacht to pay their respects personally.
This presidential reception lasted some
time. Mr.. Roosevelt knew nearly every
one of the officers personally and said
the cordial and appropriate thing in
each case. The officers we're in fullest
uniform smothered in gold braid, with
cooked hats.
One by one the launches returned,
depositing their men at gangways, and
then we're themselves hoisted on deck
By giant cranes.
"Ready" flags began to appear. The
r. II 10 10 AaoA If tho
eeet and then, one by one, at 40o-yard
intervals, the great ships fell ia bshind,
single file.
OF the point called the ''Tail of the
Horse Shoe the MsyAower again
stopped and let the ships go by. Each,
as she passed, dressed ship, the men
lined the rails, the bands played and, as
the stern came opposite the MayaoWer's
bow, sounded the farewell salute Of
twenty-one guns. This time the ships
fred separately and their sslutes made
one long drawn diapason OF 336 guns.
One by one they passed, reached the
sea between Cape Charles aud Cape
Henry, turned southwark and faded
slowly from view.
The weather was clear and cold with
few clouds. II was perfect day.
Cape Henry, Va, Dec. l6, 1l:l5 g..
M. wireless to WashingtoD)-The battle
ship feet is now sailing out to sea past
the Presidents yacht MayAower.
Washington, Dec. 16.-A dispatch to
the Navy Department announces the ar
rival at Trinidad on Saturday, OF the tor
pedo Hetills, advance guard of the battle
ship feet.