The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-12-20

President Roosevelt Went to Old Point
Comfort to Give Command Starting
Inside the Eay--Worid's Greatest
Armada in Perfect Condition.

snSla6 Ems 6ay-WoFia'6 @T0AISSt
! Armada in Perfect Condition.
Washington, Dec 16.-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 3:O7 o'clock Sunday for Hampton
Roads The president in his capacity
as commander in chief of the United
States navy gave the word OF com
mand which sent the Atlantic battle
ship fleet on it's cruise to the Pacific.
As the ships passed out to sea their
last farewell was from the president.
On the deck Of the MayfloWer he lead
the ships through the Virginia capes,
then gave way to the flagship Con-
necticut as the double line Of 1s iron
clads set their course to the south
ward.
Thus began what the president has
! planned as the supreme test OF the
/ y.
tination of the fleet is San Francisco
bay, but when and where the cruise
will ultimately end seems as yet an I'M
matured plan for the future.
Sailed at 10 O'Clock.
| Old Point Comfort, Va, Dec. 16.-
The Pacifc-bound Atlantic feet left
Monday morning on it's journey
through the straits Of Magellan en-
route, as the official order reads, FOR
the west coast Of the United States
Rear Admiral Evans, commander in
chief Of the fleet, the most notable Of
American peace expeditions, boarded
the Mayflower and paid his respects to
the president and was Immediately fol
lowed by the other flag and command
ing officers Of the feet.
The reception and the journeys of
the admiraIs and captains to and from
the Mayfower lasted more than an
hour, and q half hour more was con-
surned in lifting anchor and getting
the ships in position for tho start,
which was made about 10 o'clock Two
hours later the first Of the long line of
vessels cleared the Virginia capes and
turned her course to the southwark
The review Of the passing fleet by the
4 president took place near Thimble
shoal lighthouse, 10 miles down the
i bay d II ns ~
Saturday night the Is smoking bat
tleships were bathed in moonlight, the
view down the long twin lines OF the
feet being most impressive.
The enlisted force of each ship, num-
bering nearly a thousand men to the
company, was lined up at quarters to
listen to the reading Of the articles of
war
The men seemed deeply impressed,
: as they were also with more personal
9 words which came in orders from Adj
miral Evans, the commander in chief,
!. and from the rear admiralB on board
the three divisional fiagships. Every
:, man was told what his duty was to his
:. country, to his flag and to his superior
officers. They were cautioned to up
> hold the dignity Of their uniform when
going ashore at South American ports
and always conduct themselves in an
orderly and sober manner. After the
articles of war had been read the chap
:. lains OF the several ships read from
!, the Bible at divine worship.
I'VE could not take on another
pound of provisions" said one officer,
. unless we followed the very bad ey-
: ample OF the Russians, who were
- caught by the Japanese with eight
inch gun turrets stored with hams and
powder chambers filled with cayiare
Several scouting parties were ashore
: looking for pines to be used as Christ
mas trees. Nearly all were successful
an dthe little pines will be carefully
=, slowed away until after Trinidad is
reached on Christmas eve.
Although bound for an extended tour
of duty in the Pacific ocean the fee
still retains it's title of the UNITED
* States Atlantic feet" under which
" designation the last sailing orders
ne have been issued.
:, 80 Later Report.
of Old Point Comfort. Va, Dec. 49,
To- Sixteen naTu-nlttlUb ,steoi-uOiteu Amef
-. ican battleships, bristling and burly Q
A. girth, but sparkling white in the i'm
=. maculate dressings of peace, starte
10 away today under the dazzling sun O
ls' oloudless winter sky on their famou
rs twin-sea expedition of 1000 miles
along foreign shores and changin
er- chimes, to the west coast of the Unite
pm States.
, ID, There was not a ship in the line oil
ne enough to hare smelled the powder c
taken the shot of Manila or Sant,ag
stories written scarcely 10 years az
in the history Of nations. All we,
modern of design, examples of the al
=. pressiYa sea-gninr navy which III