Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-09
ADMIRAL TAKES LEAVE OF HIS
OFFICERS
METcALF REVIEWS GREAT FLEET
IN HARBoR
Pageant In San Franisco Bay Is the
Most Magnificent Naval Spec
tacIe Ever Witnessed
In Pacific
fcoutinued from Page one)

whistles piping out Ine oruerS VI thS
day, and of official calls upon the re-
viewing officer after the yorktown mad
made its tour of the long lines ana
taken its station In the midst of the
fiagships Connecticut, Minnesota, West
Virginia and Whipple at the heads or
the four columns.
All of the flag and commanding OIL
GERS paid their respects to secretary
Metcalf, who received them fornaily
on the quarter deck of the Yorktown
AS the officers. in full dress uniform
and attnded by members of their
staffs, came over the side from the star
board gangway they were greeted by
the blast of bugles, the ruffle or drums
bv saIuting lines of side boys at the
gangways and by a cordial handshaK-
ing from the chief officer of the navy
department Other than the official
introductions the ceremonies aboard the
Yorktown were simple and informal:
The afternoon was marked by the
presentation of silver services to the
battleship Nebraska and the armored
cruiser California, the elaborate side
hoard and table sets being the gifts
of the states after which the splendid
ships were named. Governor Sheloon
of Nebraska and Governor Gillett OF
California personally made the presen-
tation speeches.
Tonight interest is divided between
two shore functions taking rank
among the principal entertainments
provided for the fleet. At the st. Fran
els hotel the official dinner of welcome
bv the city of San Francisco was pre-
sided over by mayor Edward X. ray
lor, who made an address nlled WITH
renewed assurances of the city's over
flowing hospitality.
Rear Admiral Thomas responded IN
behalf Of the fleet.
There were a number of other
sneeches. both formal and informal.
Covers were laid for 300, all of the
flag and commanding officers of the
fleet in the harbor being present. FOL
lowing the banquet at a later hour ana
attended by all the higher oftlcers anu
a yeritable host OF younger men, came
the dance of the Friday Night clup
probably the most exclusive social or
ganization of the city, at the fa!r-
mont hotel Under the direction Oh r.
NJ Greenwav. A distinguished COM
nanv of the citys social set helped TO
make the dance one of the notaple
events of the fleets stay. The enlist
ed men of the fleet are rclVlng spe-
cial attention by the receiving COM
rnittee. Tonight there were wrestling
and athletic events in the offlclal naVai
pavilion, where some sort OF enter
tainment is provided each evening.
Next week the bluejackets and marines
are to be feasted and taken on eA-
cursions in large numbers.
Evans at Banquet
The banquet tonight was given IN the
white and gold dining room OF the 81
Francis hotel, where Admiral Evans
and his family have been making thelr
headquarters since the arrival OF the
feet on Wednesday. il mad been hoped
that the commander-in-chie OF the
feet who hauls down his flag tomof-
row forenoon from the truck Oh the
Connecticut, might appear for IeM
moments, but it was not known until
well along in the progress OF the am
ner that he was actually well enough
to do SO. -.
The admiral was wheeled into the
crowded dining hall amid spontaneous
cheers, in which the officers ana thelr
hosts, the citizens of san Francisco
ioined with equal enthusiasm. he was
in civilian attire, as was also his son,
Lieutenant Franck 7. Evans, VINO per-
sonally wheeled the invalid chair.
Rear Admirals Thomas, Sperry, EN-
ory. Dayton, Sebree and Swinburne, the
captains of all the ships, Governor Gill
lett, Secretary of the Navy MetcaH,
Mayor Taylor General Funston OF the
army, and other notable guests crowded
about the chair and shook hands with
Admiral Evans, who had cordial re-
sponse for each in turn.
Mayor Taylor introduced Admiral
Evans with just word, and as the
guest of honor, refusing all assistance,
pulled himself to his feet the cheering
began again and continued for several
minutes.
Welcome Pleases Him
"It was most unfortunate for me"
began Admiral Evans, 'and great
disappointment that upon approaching
the hospitable shores of California
found myself too i'll to engage in any
of your social festivities.
''But 1 had a friend who told me of
the wonderful curative waters of your
healing springs, and l went there and
found a wonderful benefit. If l had
stayed longer l undoubtedly would soon
be well. But 1 am in San Francisco
because I said l would come. What
little rheumatism 1 had left was all
taken out of me yesterday by the cheers
and the kind voices of the people of
San Francisco. And if | ever have that
blessed rheumatism again l shall bid
it begone in the memory of those
cheers.
"If you ask me why the Atlantic fleet
was sent to the Pacific coast, [ can
only say that 1 was told to bring it, and
here it is.
''In this connection l feel that it will
not be a violation of a navy regula-
tion to tell you that when we were
about to start out l was assured by the
president of the United States, and by
the secretary of the navy that great
man of the cabinet who is here tonight,
and who is doing so much to give you
a big navy, that it was purely a peace
cruise, but we must be prepared to
fight if necessary So we came on our
peace cruise, and in the end have pre-
sented the fleet to you. Be good TO the
men and officers of our ships. They are
all wool and a yard wide If you ever
have occasion to need them, you will
find / have made no mistake in my de-
scriptive list of that gang"
Wants Men Who Can Shoot
You have heard lot of talk lately
about water line armor belts" Evans
said, land 1 see here tonight the man
who had much to do with starting il
all. From what has been written and
said you would imagine we had a Iot
of eggs placed along the water line 10
be smashed by every shell that comes
along. But let me tell you it is not
armor belts or water lines that win
battles. 1t is the men who shoot
straightest and hardest and can stand
punishment the longest. If you have
such men-and We have Just that kind
of stuff in our navy-it makes no dif-
ference whether the armOr belts are of
leather, or wood, or egg shells, or any
thing else.
"That you need big navy is not for