Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-05-14
SAILORS MARCHED
EIGHT THOUSAND sLUEJAckETs
AND MARINES PARADE IN
SAN FRANCISCO.
SOLDIERS ACTED As ESCORT
Admiral Evans Rode in q Carriage A.
the Head Of the Line--inter-
estlng Problems Of
Landing. So

San Francisco, May Slight thou
sand bluejackets and marines--the
largest armed force the American
navy has ever put ashore in time OF
peace or war--were landed Thursday
from the combined Atlantic and Pa
ciflc fleets, now lying In the harbor
and marched through the streets Of
San Francisco in the most notable
parade the city has ever known. For
four miles and a half, along streets
lined ami canopied with colors and In
review Of q never-ending crowd the
fighting men of the fleets made their
way to the martial tunes of their ship
mate bands to the cheers that began
with the first command to march and
ended only when the sailor.men had
again embarked In the small boats
that returned them to the battleships
and armored cruisers In the roa listed.
twenty-five hundred soldiers OF the
regular army In full dress array, gra'
ciously acted as an escort to the visit.
ing men of the sea and were literally
applauded. Rear Admiral Evans, com
handing the fleets, and the six other
rear admirals In command OF squad
rons ami divisions, rode in carriages.
Admiral Evans was quickly recognized
by the thousands in the immense re-
viewing stands and bowed constant
recognition of the cheering as his car
riages slowly moved at the front OF
the marching columns. Secretary OF
the Navy Metcalf, Gov. Gillett Of Cali
fornia and Mayor Taylor, of San
Francisco rode In the parade and az
terward reviewed 1t as 1t counter
marched down Vanness avenue. In
addition to the soldiers and sailors
there were large representations from
the national guard and from semi-mill'
tary, veteran and civic organizations.
"A battalion Of natty little high school
cadets from Salt Lake City acted as
personal escort to Admiral Evans in
token Of his having been appointed to
the naval academy from the state Of
Utah.
The landing Of the great force Of
sailors and marines involved problems
Of small craftsmanship and executive
ability that was at once test and
triumph of the efficiency of the navy.
1t was a drill Of rare importance and
was accomplished with dispatch that
knew no confusion. Sailing launches,
cutters, giggs and whaleboats-ap-
pearing like solid patches of blue so
closely we're they filled-were formed
by the various ships of the two fleets
into divisions and fotillas and under
command Of specially designated
small boat captains and admirals,
were towed tandem fashion by the
sturdy little steam launches to the
landing barges. The bay swarmed
with the tiny craft and those who saw
the maneuvers of landing marveled
that out of these diminutive boats,
dancing over the harbor waves, so
great force as that which appeared
in the parade could grow as If by
magic.
After the parade was dispersed the
officers were driven over other Sec
lions than those already traversed and
shown the progress Of reconstruction
there.
At the Fairmont hotel Thursday
Gov. Gillett AMI his stan entertained
at dinner in honor Of Secretary Met
calf and the flag ami commanding of.
icers Of the feet. Admiral Evans
was unable to attend. his place being
taken by Rear Admiral Thomas, who
responded to the welcome to the At
lantic feet. A number Of informal
speeches were made.