The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-15
VESSELS RIDE STORM
 WITH PERFECT EASE
Grand Spectacle Is Presented as the RattIeshlps Throw Back the Giant Waves of an Agltated Sea
 In Hampton Roads.
BY RICHARD BARRY.

Fort Monroe va.. December 14.-(Spe- cial.)-The 16 battleships of the Atlantic fleet have ridden at the end of 50 fathoms of anchor chain through varying tempest, fog and sunshine in Hampton Roads to- day.
 Thousands thronged the Virginia line looking out across a moon-fiecked, tumb- ling wave waste at the thrillingly impos- ing spectacle of the two squadrons. The great ships are tugging at their hawsers and wigwagglng searchlight signals as they wait for the coming of the President on Monday and for the world-round voy- age that will begin S7 hours hence.
 On shore Admiral Evans, the other ad- mirals and the captains hold farewell re- captions in the hotel. Between the ships and the shore gaily decked launches and gigs toss up and down as they scud to and from the ironclads. Beyond the great armada lies tract of weaving water three miles long by a third of a mile in width In the moonlight it looks like some giant monument, all lit, rising from the sea On board the sailors are singing sea songs that say their "au re- voir'' to the land.
 The night could not be finer for such a silent spectacle of the United States navy in leash. During the early day, however, when a storm arose and howled about the fleet, 1t lent an even greater grandeur to the view. The storm broke little after daybreak. First thick fog de- scended to shut out the ship from sight of land.
 The perfect discipline of their officers and men in this outbreak of nature is a convincing earnest of their ability to cope with whatever may oppose them in their coming voyage.
 Vessels Brave Storm.
 The sight of the two big squadrons, riding the storm in the roads today is as brave spectacle as any American could wish to see beneath his country s flag. For show of discipline, strength. efficiency and potential power,' the At lantic fleet Is as incomparable to the eyes of the 1ayman as to the naval sta- tlstican, and the latters figures prove that it Is by far the most pursuant fight ing force now assembled In one spot any where on this globe.
 The Connecticut and Minnesota. farth- est on the shore, lie at anchor with their noses pointing at the fortress. Back of their sterns stretch the two lines of iron clads that make up the rest of the fleet. The ships are chained 400 yards apart and 600 yards of sea separate the squad- rons. Thus the fleet covers an area Of the roads two miles long, third of a mile in width. At a distance 1t looks like a great yellow monument which might have been built out of the sea to commemorate the achievements of the greatest fighting nation in the modern world The 13.000 men aboard might be statutes in miniature, frescoing the sides of the huge sculptured pulk Coaling has been long since finished. That Is well, for in the storm that came with the ships no coaling could have been done in the roads. Neither can officers gigs or launches afford to take chances of riding through the gale from shore
 Supplies For Fleet.
 All the supplies have been put aboard save the wines and fine cigars which will meet the fleet for the wardrobe messes at Trinidad. Therefore Admiral Evans is ready for the sailing; therefore neither he nor his men mind the tempest that howls today and tonight about his men, of-war The navy has a way of being on time On time 1t has assembled here; on time 1t will depart. On time, CD. V.) it will arrive the 18th of next March in Magdalena Bay on the coast of South
 
 were off the coast of Maine for annual target practice instead of being 12,000 miles away through the most dangerous channel known to navigation.
 The Maine was the only ship held down here and her little accident has not been advertised, for 1t made no difference in the schedule. She struck a snag in the Delaware river, and when divers went down to find what ailed her. they re- ported a log in her rudder, which some sailors say is queer place to keep a log.
 The hotels nearby gre crowded with the wives, sweethearts, children and friends of the officers They all keep just as close as they can to the dear ones whom they will not see for another three months. Mrs. Evans sits in the office cabin in the Connecticut up under the bow. while lighting Bob" at table nearby reads his mail and sends out his final orders. It is a very unpretentious little room, the size of a workingman' s drawing room, with a leather sofa and three or four leather chairs. A small square oak table in the center holds mail stacked foot high, and there the <Ad- miral works calling by bells his flag lieutenant his secretary or his aide as he wishes Besides him, in an arm chair, Mrs. Evans sits throughout the day knit ting on an old fashioned comforter of pale worsted. Perhaps no man on whose shoulders rests the responslpillty TOT slzo,- no O0 worth of property ever worked in such surroundngs Nor can any one think of any other captain of industry who works for s75oO which Evans draws for his work But in that homely situa- ton is the keynote of the navy. Hard work for little pay. great responsibility with small relief and true love in honest. homely expression
 Evans Final Word.
 You ask me on the eve of the de- parture of the fleet to give you some words to lay before the people Of the United States. I therefore ask you to convey to the people the sincere thanks and hearty appreciation of the officers and men of the fleet for the great inter est which the country at large is taking n our government.
 we feel the responsibility which the
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