The morning journal-courier., 1907-12-16
Men of America's Greatest Armada Deeply Impressed on the Eve of De-
 parture.
SHIPS LIFT ANCHOR TO-DAY
President Arrives at Eight O'Clock This Morning, and by Noon Will be on Their
 Way.

Old Point Comfort Va, Dec. 15.- The Pacific bound fleet will leave to- morrow 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.
 The president is expected at Hamp- ton Roads cn the Mayfower shortly after o'clock His coming will be timed as near that hour as possible without preceding, for salutes cannot be fired before 8 o'clock under the navy regulations.
 From the time the presidents yacht casts anchor in the interior of the fleet events will move rapidly. Rear Admiral Evans, cominander-in-chief of the notable American peace ex- petition will board the Mashower to pay his respects to the president and will be Immediately followed by the other aag and commanding officers of the fleet The reception will be brief ana a mere or less informal one. The reception and the Journeys of the ad- mirals and captains to and from the Mayfower aye expected to take up wards of an hour, and half an hour will be consumed in lifting anchor and taking position for the start This, it is expected will he about 10 o'clock. Two hours later the last of the vessels will have cleared the Virginia capes and turned southward. The review of the passing fleet by the president will take place near Thimble siloal light house, ten miles down the bay, and should be ended at 11:30 a. m.
 On shore the hotels are crowded en- tirely beyond their capacity by wives sweethearts officials and friends who have come to gay good bye. Many ot these will have to sit up throughout the night or lounge as best they can In the chairs of the hotel lobbies
 The clearing weather was unexpect- ed and gratifying A smiling sun is predicted fer tomorrow,
 Shore liberty for the sailors ended At 10 o'clock this morning and at thai hour the enlisted force of each ship numbering nearly a thousand men tc the company, was lined up at quarters 10 listen to the reading of the articles of war, The men seemed deeply i'm. pressed, as they also were with more personal words which came in orders from Admiral Evans, the command. er-in-chief and from the rear. admiral. on board the three divisional 1agships
 f1fl I, was to his country, to his flag and tt his s'iperlor officers. The buejaeket' were cautioned to uphold the dignity of the uniform when going ashore a South American parts. and alway; to conduct themselves in an orderly and sober manner.
 After the articles of war had beer read the chaplains of the seyera. ships read the Bible at divine wor- ship
 Some belated stores were placed or several of the ships to-day. vast quantity of plum pudding going tc the nesses of the Georgia and the Vermont
 We could not take on another , pound of provisions' said an officer to-day, unless we followed the very bad example of the Russians. whC were caught with the eight-ineh tur rets stuffed with hams
 Several scouting parties were ashore to-day looking for scrubby pines to b, used as Christmas trees. Nearly al were successful and the little pine will be carefully slowed away unti Trinidad is reached on Christina eve.
 A number of vacAts came into tn Roads to-day with pleasure partie aboard