The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
President Roosevelt WiI Give Word of Command Early
 This Warning
MAYFLOWER CARRIES
 PRESIDENTIAL PARTY
Members of Naval Committees of the Senate and House Will Attend Ger emoniaI in Body-Mrs. Roose-
 welt With the President.


 Washington December 15.-President Roosevelt, accompanied by Mrs. Roose- welt and a distinguished company Of guests, sailed on the naval yacht May flower from the Washington navy yard at 307 o'clock today for Hampton Roads The President in his capacity as com mander-in-chief of the United States navy will tomorrow give the word of command which will send the Atlantic battleships fleet on it's cruise to the Pacific. As the ships pass out to sea their last farewell will be from the President. From the Mayhower he will lead the ships through the capes, then govern the way to the Flagship Connecticut as the double line of 16 ironclads set their course to the southward. Thus will begin what the President has planned as the supreme test of the American navy. The an- nounced destination of the fleet is San Francisco bay, but when and where the cruise will ultimately end seems as yet an unmatured plan for the future
 The Departing Scene.
 The departing scene from the Washing ton navy yard was typical of the punc- tiliousness of naval etiquette The May flower was spick and span and spotless in white, the jackies in their war garb of blue lined the rail and the cheerless raw day semed to lend itself to an ex- pression of their feelings at being left out of the big trip. Marines patroled the clean swept deck and kept far back from the gang plank the hundred and more persons who had come to see the Pres ident depart.
 Secretary and Mrs Metcalf were piped over the ships side half an hour before the arrival of the President, who was two minutes late.
 A few minutes following the arrival Of the Secretary the Bostons whistle sounded the honors to Assistant Seere- tary and Mrs. Newberry, who also are guests of the President on the trip then followed Rear Admiral and Mrs. Brown son and Commander and Mrs. Sims. In White House carriage preceding the President came Miss Ethel Roosevelt, Miss Corinne Robinson and Miss Hagner. Rear Admiral and Mrs. Cowles rode With the President and Mrs. Roosevelt. AS the President stepped aboard the flag of the nder-in-chief was broken out at the main yard, the hawsers were slipped and the Mayflower was under way in just five minutes.
 The President, as he drove on the wharf, acknowledged the greeting Of the crowd, and as the yacht began to move he raised his hat from his place on the front decks while the cheers were given from the wharf. The Mayfiower Is ex- pected to clear the bad places in the Po- tomac before dark, when a livelier clip will be taken up and Hampton Roads reached by o'clock in the morning.
 At this hour a salute by the entire fleet will be given and the ceremonies of the departure begun These include recep- tion by the President on the Mayf1ower Of the commanding officers of the ships or the fleet and the departing review. The President will not leave the Mayflower during the trip, and is expected to reach Washington on his return early Tuesday morning.
 Another and a somewhat liveier party departed from the navy yard earlier in the day, being members of the naval con- mittees of the Senate and House of Rep resentatives, who through the courtesy of Assistant Secretary Newberry were provided with the United States steamship Dolphin for the trip to the scene of the fleets departure. The Dolphin got under way shortly after II o'clock. Among those on board were Chairman Foss of the House naval committee, Senator McIner- nery of Louisiana, Representatives Loud of Michigan, Dawson of Iowa, Thomas .f Ohio. Roberts of Massachusetts, Bates of Pennsylvania, Butler of Pennsylvania. Padgett of Tennessee, w. w Kitchen of North Carolina and Gregg of Texas
 The Dolphin will reach her anchorage at Hampton Roads shortly in advance of the Mavf1Ower