Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-17
PATRIOTISM aUNs HIGH IN
HAMPTON ROADS
ROOSEVELT BIDS COMMANDERS
FAREWELL
Double Line nf Fighting Monsters
Sweeps Into Position and Trial
Of Naval Strength Is
Begun
from Page One.)

reSdTueu as DuJ o. uetdll VI HdNai Liam
ing.
President in Good Spirits
The inspiring sight of the vessels gaily
dressed at anchor and waiting the word
spirits. While the Mayfiower was COM
ing into position and waiting for the re-
ception to begin the president paced
rapidly up and down the deck, anxious
to obtain a view of the great double
squadron from every possible vantage
point. To Secretary of the Navy Metcalf,
and to others OF his guests on board, he
was constantly exclaiming on the beauty
and grandeur of the sudden scenes.
Did you ever see such feet? And
such day! Isn't it magnificent? Ought
not we to feel proud?'
And then the president had something
TO say TO the enlisted men. In the midst
of the reception to the officers he sent
for the coxswain of the Louisiana's
launch and through him dispatched
special greeting to the ships crews 1t
was on the Louisiana that the president
made his recent trip to the isthmus of
Panama, and ever since that time he has
felt a personal interest in all the ship
has done. When the surprised and en-
barrassed coxswain, Seaman William
Chandler, had been presented to Mrs.
Roosevelt as well as to the president, and
had again clambered into his launch, the
president said to those about him:
81 tell you enlisted men are everything.
They are perfectly bully and they are
up to everything required of them. This
is indeed great fleet and great day."
Admiral Evans, commander in chief of
he la o1-ff fhn first nf O
flag officers to be piped over the side of
the Mayfiower. He hurried TO where the
president stood and bringing his right
hand to /. saluting position. paid his for
NAL respects and gave his personal assur-
ance that the ships of his command were
ready for the trip to the other side of the
hemisphere.
.Grasps Evans Hand
President Roosevelt acknowledged
the salute with lifted hat and accepted
the formal words of greeting as stiffly
as they, were uttered. Then, with the
brief ceremony ended. he grasped Ad
mral Evans hand and gave 1t the
heartiest of shakes. The two con-
versed together informally for a mo-
ment or two until other arriving flag
and commanding officers set the ,recep-
tion in full swing.
take his leave and get the fleet under
way the president followed him to the
gangway and then called him aside for
nearly five minutes of earnest CONVEX
satfon. The president spoke with his
usual emphasis and the admiral lis
tened intently with a constant affirma
tive nod of his head.
During the reception the president
was photographed with the officers
oh Id A nrsra vi
and band were stationed on the May
flowers decks and the ceremonies OF
receiving and sending away the visit
ing officers gave a martial touch of
color to the occasion.
Rear Admiral Berry, commanding
the Norfolk navy yard, journeyed to
Hampton Roads on the torpedo boat
Stringham to pay his respects to the
president. and his dark hulled, rakish
looking craft passing in among the
white clad battleships added something
of the sinister side of the purpose of a
nayy's being. Being black of hull and
tunnels, with no touch of color any
where in the relief the Stringham
glided about like some creepy reptile.
There was another torpedo boat in the
picture--the Tingey-which acted as
convoy to the Mayf1ower. But the
Tingey was far more pleasing in her
band about the tunnels. She remained
by the side of the Maylower through
out the ceremony.
In parting with the officers of the
fleet President Roosevelt was wholly
informal, and to each had a cordial
hand clasp. a grasp of the uniformed
shoulder and a hearty good by, old
fellow, and good luck"
SiunaIs Flashed
The waiting fleet prepared early to
welcome the president and later bid
him adieu. Long before the first gray
shadows of the breaking day slanted
through the waiting gateway of the
capes the red and white ardois lanterns
on mastheads were flashing signals
from divisional flagships,
Sailormen by hundreds were busy pol
ishing decks and bright works for the
coming aun to bring out in sparkling re-
lief against the buff color of the super
structure The every-busy little steam
running boats were making their last
trips from the shore, with impatient whis-
ties screeaching a warning to tardy mail
orderlies laden with last messages of
good by to the departing fleet, when the
sun broke above the eastern horizon.
1t was not long after the anchor lights
had disappeared that the slim white hull
of the May1oWer cOulQ De maze out IN
the distance. Then the final preparations
were rushed with a will. Orders had been
given to dress ship at s o'clock and the
last bell of the morning watch had not
been struck when the dressing lines,
afutter with varicolored signal flags.
were lifted 10 the truck above the fight
ing tops.
The gay dressings appeared as If by
magic on every ship Of the fleet and re-
manned aloft until the president had
taken his place at the head of the line,
and then tumbling to the deck and the
ships had once more assumed the simple
garb of a cruising trip.
The Old Point shores and the ram
parts of historic old Fortress Monroe
were lined with thousands of persons as
the fleet lifted anchor and set sail. Other
thousands were gathered aboard other
craft of all descriptions. The government
pier, projecting far out into the roads at
Old Point, was living mass of humanity.
In the crowd were gathered wives, sis
ters and sweethearts of officers and en-
listed men, all feeling the common i'm
pulse of mingled admiration for the vast
marine picture unfolded before them, and
the heartburning of long parting with
relatives anc friends If WAS neculia f.Iv