Arizona republican., 1908-04-28
THE BATTLE
 OF FLOWERS A Vivid Fleet Celebration
 at Santa Barbara Admiral Evans Will Re- join the Squadron at Santa Cruz On May ,.

rays of the undimmed sun. a day re- dolent with the perfume of spring blos- sons and petal strewn pathways. a day of gaily arrayed holiday throngs. a day of flower decSed coaches and floats passing in review before thou sands of cheering people; day of white uniformed marching sailors, their gun barrels hidden in roses day of soft southern breeze. of blue skies, deeper hued waters, palm lined ocean boulevards and flowers, flowers. flow CTS every where the eye could reach such was Santa Barbara's floral festi- val today in honor of the Atlantic bat tleShip fleet
 Tonight the ocean front is gay with lights. and with dancing sailors gath cred in the out of door ball room. The brilliant indoor ball for officers was also d feature of the gala event
 The floral parade in the afternoon formed picture of rainbow beauty unrivalled. The officers of the fleet sat in a great tribune of the ampithe- ater at the head of Plaza Delmar. fac- ing the ocean, and were unstinted in applause.
 The afternoon and evening gaiety ashore was preceded by morning of hard work on most of the ships.
 Preparations are being made for Ad- miral Thomas. who would soon trans fer his flag from the Connecticut back to the Minnesota in anticipation of the return of Rear Admiral Evans to com mand the fleet in it's entry through the Golden Gate at San Francisco. There is stout work to be done on the broken engine of the Missouri. and above all there is an attempt to main tain discipline and efficiencv, which much shore leave to meet the wishes of the coast cities of California was materially interfered with
 IL was officially announced during the day that Admiral Evans had decid- ed to adhere to his original intention and instead of rejoining the fleet at Monterey. May l. as announced. will wait until the afternoon of May D. when just before the ships leave Santa and his ensign be broken. from the main truck. Admiral Thomas will transfer his flag to the Minnesota on lnt morning or May a.
 The fleet will enter the Golden Gate at noon of May 6. and the review will occur in san Francisco harbor on May s. On May 10 Evans is expected 10 haul down his flag permanently. The fleet will then pass under the actual command of Thomas for five days. On May l5 he will be relieved at his own request and make way for Rear Admiral Charles s. Sperry. who will take the ships on the world cruise.
 It was said today that the damage to the port engine of the Missouri is so serious that there is d strong pos sibility Of the> ship not being able to accompany the fleet to the far east in July. The Missouri will continue with the fleet to San Francisco and Puget Sound. as the runs to the Pas cific coast ports will be made in easy stages. In case the Missouri cannot go east, either the Maine or the Ala bama will be retained in it's place in the column O. sixteen.
 Many officers of the fleet have been applying for leave of absence ever since the fleet reached the coast So numerous and insistent have requests become that the admiral issued a cir cular today notifying everybody that no leaves will be granted until after the review on May s.
 The fleet will leave here on Thurs day morning and arrive at Monterey next morning at o'clock. After one day in Monterey the two squadrons of the fleet will part company, the first pynfnU n ho of the 2nd. The second squadron will remain at Monterey until the after noon of the 4th. which it will sail for santa Cruz and remain there until the afternoon of the 5th. when the reunit- ed fleet with Admiral Evans in com mand, will sail for san Francisco, an chOring outside the Golden Gate on the night of May ,.
 Today's floral parade and the battle of flowers was the most elaborate and spectacular affair of its kind ever at tempted in southern California
 Stewart Edward White. the novelist, was the chairman of the committee in charge of the parade.
 It was after the procession had pass ed entirely down the long boulevard of P''A4'i 'A'''f e'-i' s7Neii NNu Ap NptiAANl- march that the signal to open fire was given, and the battle of flowers began in earnest. Thousands of bouauets were hurled from the tribunes and the fire was returned by heavily armed forces in carriages and on floats. The rain of floral missiles was the heavi- est in the vicinity of the tribune oc- cupied by the officers who entered in- to the spirit of the fight with charac- teristic energy and enthusiasm. The battle ragged half an hour. The parade attracted d countless multitude to the Seashore.
 Twelve hundred sailors landed from the ships with a marine band at their head and formed the first feature of the parade. They were divided into sixteen companies. Each succeeding company was supplied with different blossoms, and the effect brought spon- taneous cheers from all who saw Fol lowing the sailors came mounted bod ies of horsemen. forest rangers. auto phaetons and floats.
 THE SICK ADMIRAL.
 Paso Robles. April 27.-Admiral Ev-