Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-25


Old Point Comfort, Va. Dec. IL
Sixteen hard-hitting steel belted
American battleships, gun-bristling
and burly of girth, but sparkling
white in their Immaculate dressings
of peace. sailed away yesterday I'M
der the dazzling sun Of a. cloudless
winter sky on their famous twin-sea
expedition of 1900 miles, along
foreign shores and changing climes,
to the west coast of the United
States. President Roosevelt, on the
bridge of his cruiser yacht Mayhow-
or, personally led the magnificent
foar-mile line of fighting vessels dur
ing the first stage of the voyage
From the anchorage ground in Hamp-
ton Roads TO the horseshoe bend of
Chesapeake bay his eagle-crested flag
of blue pointed the way to the
fleets new home at the Golden
Gate. Then. when the wide reaches
of the sea were visible through the
wide-swung capes of Virg mia, he
turned aside and coming to anchor
age, reviewed the passing pageant
The blue Of the sky. the stretch of
the green sea miles, the glistening
of the spotless bulls, the curl of the
foamcrested bow-waves, the cheer
ing of sailors afioat and friends
ashore, the breeze-blown strains of
Aud Lang Syne floating across the
waters. the blare OF trumpets, the
rufie of drums, the fash of signals
and boom of saluting cannon marked
the departure of the fieet-presenting
to the people who watched a specta-
Gle they will never forget and to the
world at large the reality of the trim
NEST, snaggest, most homogeneous,
most thoroughly equipped, most mo-
bile and self reliant assemblage of
first class battleships ever gathered
in one command.
All New Ships
There was not a ship in the line
old enough to have smelled powder
or taken shot at Manila or Santi-
ago. Ali were modern of design and
armament examples of the aggres-
sive seargoing navy which the presi-
dent has declared to be so essential
to the peace OF the country. At
taches of fore. ga legations and en-
bassies at Washington and many cor
respondents who have seen war serv-
Ice on foreign journals freely de-
clared yesterdays naval display the
most Impressive they had ever seen.
The facility with which the big yes
sells were handled, the manner in
which they were maneuvered into a
single column, and the perfect align
ment maintained to the southwark
turn from the cape called out the
warmest admiration.
The sailing of the feet was pre-
coded by a reception on the further
deck of the Mayflower, which short
" after s O'clock yesterday morning
steamed into the center of the anch-
ored feet. President Roosevelt warm
" greeted the four rear admirals and
the 16 commanding officers of the
feet. He had words of confidence
and well wishes for all but made NJ
formal address. While the May
flower was coming into position and
waiting for the reception to begin,
the president paced the deck and TO
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf and
others of his guests on board he was
constantly exclaiming upon the beau
ty and grandeur of the surrounding
scenes.
Evans Reports Fleet Ready.
Admiral Evans, commander-in-chiel
OF the departing feet, was the first
of the flag officers to be piped over
the side Of the Mayfower. He hur-
vied to where the president stood
waiting and bringing his right hand
to the saiuting position, paid his for
NAL respects and gave his personal
assurance that the ships of his com
mand were ready for the trip to the
other side of the hemisphere. Presi-
dent Roosevelt acknowledged the sa.
AuSC vim A1ANSu i1tt sAllu dCSSpISu l1C
formal words of greeting as st.n.
~ as they were uttered. Then with
the .Sief ceremony ended, he grasped
Evans hand and give it the hearth
est OF shakes. They two conversed
together informally for a moment or
two until the other flag and COM
manding; officers set the reception
into full swing. When Evans was
about to take his leave and get the
fleet under way, the president fol
lowed him to the gangway and then
called him aside for nearly five min
utes of earnest conversation. The
president spoke with his usual empna.
sis and the adm raj listened intenuy
with constant affirmative nod of his
head.
Friends Throng the Shores.
The Old Point shores and the ram
parts Of historic old fortress Monroe
we're lined with thousands of per
sons as the feet lifted anchor and
set sail Other thousands were
gathered aboard excursion craft Of
all descriptions. The government
pier projecting far out into the roads
al Old Point was a living mass OF
hsfrnSnffy In the crowd vsara cath.