The San Francisco call., 1908-04-28
EVANS WILL LEAD
ARMADA INTO BAY
Admiral Plans to Rejoin the
Fleet at Monterey and
Again Command

Unless he should suffer a sudden re-
lapse Admiral Evans will assume COM
mand of the battleship fleet at Mon
terey May s., and sail into San Fran
cisco bay May In full command. Ad
vices to that effect were confirmed yes
terday by the feet committee. when
Chairman James d. Phelan telephoned
10 surgeon Mcdonald at Paso @Robles
and received positive assurance that
those were the admirals plans.
Mcdonald said that Evans recovery
had been even more rapid than was ex-
pected, and that he would undoubtedly
be able to carry out his cherished plans
of participating in the functions in his
honor in this city. Then, his ambition
consummated for bringing the battle
ships In safety from the principal city
on the Atlantic to the metropolis of
the Pacific, he will haul down his flag
May and relinquish the command to
Rear Admiral Thomas, who shortly
afterward will in turn be relieved by
Rear Admiral Sperry.
SCHOOLBOYS FOR ESCORT
By personal request of Admiral
Evans his escort in the big naval and
military parade in this city May will
consist of an armed corps of ESQ cadets
from the Salt Lake high school, led by
their own band. Here was the letter
received yesterday from the admiral
over his own signature by General John
A Roster, grand marshal of the occa-
sion:
General John A. Koster-Sir: 1t wonld give
me great pleasure to have my escort In the
San Francisco parade the high school boys of
salt Lake, as long as it does not interfere with
any previous arrangements Yours truly,
r. d. EVANS, Rear Admiral, u. S. N.
Utah was the state from which Evans
was appointed a cadet to the naval
academy before the civil war Stimuli
taneously with the receipt of the note
from him came another, containing in
teresting bits of history of the noted
| fighter, from Mayor John S. Bransford
of Salt Lake City, addressed to Mayor
Taylor, and expressing Salt Lakes de-
sire to aid in welcoming the feet. It
follows:
SALT LAKES REQUEST
The city of Salt Lake is anxious to participate
IN the welcome and reception to be rendered
tne Dattieship heet under command Of Admiral
Robley D. Evans
The admiral, you doubt are aware re-
celVed his appointment TO the United States
naval academy from the then territory of Utah.
through our delegate to congress, Captain Will
liam Hooper. At that time the future admiral
was serving as page in congress- where he met
Captain Hooper, at whose insistence young Evans
made an arduous and dangerous trip across the
plains to Utah to qualify for the position OF
cadet by acquiring residence there's When
this was done Captain Hooper appointed Robley
D. Evans as Utah representative In the naval
academy Because of this fact the people of
Utah have felt close personal interest in the
admiral and have watched his career as naval
officer with profound interest and pride
1t Is our intention TO send to San Francisco
zoo cadets, led by their own band from the Salt
Lake city high school, under command OF Cap
tain Webb TO take such part in your cere-
monies as may be decided upon by your local
committee OF arrangements. The board of edu-
cation has formally sanctioned the excursion of
the cadets and will allow full credits in grad
uation for the time spent in the trip. ,
These cadets are newly and attractiveIy uni
formed, and perfectly drilled, and mag
nihcent body of young men, and among them is
grandson of the gentleman who made it pos
sibie for the admiral TO begin his life as an
officer in the navy of the United States 1t
seems TO US here that under the circumstances
II would be 4 particularly graceful compliment
not only to the admiral but TO the state of
Utah, TO have this splendid body of cadets as
signed the duty of acting as his personal body
guard or escort during the progress Of the cele-
bration.
OFFICERS of the United states army who have
Inspected the Salt Lake city high school cadets
assert that the accuracy of their military eyo-
lutions is equal to that OF any similar body out
side Of the regular army.
JOHN S. BRANSFoRD,
Mayor of Salt Lake City.
The parade committee, through
Chairman Frank j. Symmes, imme-
diately replied to Evans yesterday that
his wish to have the cadets as his body
guard would be gladly granted They
will, therefore, march Immediately in
front of his carriage in the procession
To add to the attractiveness of the
parade it was planned yesterday by the
committee to engage an additional
band in order that along the whole line
of march there will be continuous
music.