Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-16

touoS haNdi review surpassed
any previously held in American wa
tiers. and created great enthusiasm
among the officers and men of the
fleet. as wei as in the ranks. OF the
thousands of spectators who lined
President Roosevelt on September 3.
the shores OF Hampton Roads to Wit
ness the great affair. Thousands OF
visitors fiocked into Norfolk and
other Tidewater towns last night aud
this morning, intent on seeing the
greas naval spectacle. many coming
on private yachts from New York.
Washington. Philadelphia and other
cities. Almost as many strangers
We're here today 10 see the departure
OF the fleet as were attracted on the
big days OF the late jamestown ex-
position.
While the Oyster Bay review by
1906, surpassed today's event in The
number OF vessels in line. il was far
inferior ia displacement and Rrma-
ment TO the mighty feet that passed
In review before the president to-
day. In last years review there
were twelve battleships in line. and
OF this dozen two were vessels that
have since been practically retired
from The lighting line. These shirs
were the Indiana and the Iowa. The
ships reviewed today which did not
take part in the review last year al
Oyster Bay are the Connections, Kan
sas, Georgia. Ohio. Minnesota and
Vermont.
The first stop to be made by the
fleet will be at Trinidad. December
"a, where the sailor boys will have
aheir Christmas dinner. and from
whence the first messages will proba-
bly, be sent regarding the Incidents
Of the cruise, The newspapers will
be forced to depend upon Admiral
Evans for all news OF the voyage,
since no newspaper men were al
lowed to accompany the feet. This
order does not meet with the APP
prevail OF Fighting Bob" who urged
his superior TO permit representa-
tives of the press on board the yes
sells. 1t was the vigorous conten-
ton OF Admiral Evans shat as the
feet was on practice cruise and one
In which the American people were
keenly interested. correspondents
should b taken on the cruise and be
afforded every facility for sending
dispatches. He declared that as the
people had to pay the freight. why,
dammit, they ought to be allowed 10
know what they were coating for
their money. The only limit to the
activity OF the newspaper men, in
Fighting Bob's" opinion. should be
that thelr messages be free from any
technical details that would be OF adj
vantage to foreign nations. Presi-
dent Roosevelt was at first inclined
to share Admiral Evans opinion, but
conference with Secretary Root
and Rear Admiral Brownson caused
him to change his mind. Rear Ad-
miral Brownson is especially OPP
posed to any publicity in naval af-
fairs. Admiral Evans will not have
the responsibility Of supplying the
American public with such news re-
'gafding the cruise as he thinks Il
should have, in addition TO his other
duties. This. 81 Is known. he con-
siders a very unfortunate arrange
ment. but he is not cast down. with
the experience he is about TO gain.
he told a newspaper man before sail
Ing, he might be able to get a job as
reporter after being retired from
the navy.
1t Is certain that the gallant tars
Of the feet will be given joyous
time during their holiday visit Of
five days in Trinidad. The people
there, as in other cities where the
feet will stop. arc preparing n
spread-eagle time for the visiting
sailormen. a great sporting carnival
has been arranged in Trinidad for
the five days. including golf and
polo for the officers. football and
baseball for the men and horse races
for everybody The breakers Of the
Gulf OF PARA will afford magnificent
Christmas bathing. and. altogether.
the 1900 sailors Of Uncle Sam will
undoubtedly spend the most inter
esting holiday period Of their lives.
A great Christmas feast. with q
pound OF Vermont turkey for each
man. viii be served on the vessels
the food for the great banquet beinG
stored in the refrigerator ship Gla-
cier
Jack will next be heard from at
Rio de Janeiro. the beautiful capital
Of Brazil. where he viii sp.nd the
ten days from January II TO January
2t. This ancient city. now trans
formed into one Of tho most hoauti-
ful capitals Of the world will give
Jack a hearty welcome. and he will
probably hcave a sigh OF regret whom
the ships hoist anchor and sail away
for Punta Arenas. the most sOuther-
$500 ------- ---------- ---.--------