The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-10
EVANS GIVES
 UP COMMAND Rear s.miral Thomas at Helm. " UNUSUAL CEREMONIES lands Play and Saluting Guns
 Boom Out. Admiral Thomas Will Be in Command of Fleet Only Five Days When Admiral sperry win suc-
 eeed Him.
UNUSUAL CEREMONIES


 tiously and without unusual ceremony, Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans today relinquished command of the Atlantic fleet to Rear Admiral Charles Nj. Thomas.
 Worn with his exertions of last night, when he was wheeled in chair to the banquet room at the St. Fran els Hotel and spoke for some minutes to the assembled guests amid scenes of wild enthusiasm, Admiral Evans to- day rested in his room at the hotel. His flag at the mast head of the Con- necticut was hauled down at 10:30 this morning with salute of thirteen guns from the ship. At the same Instant the red flag of Admiral Thomas float ing on the Minnesota was hauled down with similar honors and the Admiral, accompanied by his aides, entered his barge and was conveyed to the Con necticut.
 The officers of the flagship were drawn up on the quarter deck with the band and full guard at attention. As Admiral Thomas came over the side, the band struck up the strains of march and the sa1uting guns of all the ships of the Atlantic fleet began 10 boom out in honor of the new com mander In chief. Admiral Inonas nroceeded immediately to the cabin vacated by Admiral Evans and received the congratulations of the officers. La fer in fhe day he received scores Of teIe1rams from all parts of the eoun- try congratulating him upon his at tainrnent to the office of commander,
 Admiral Thomas will command put five days. retiring In favor of head Ad- ,1traI Charles N Sperry on May 10. Tine illness of Admiral Evans inter ferred with the time-honored ceremo- ny of the retiring commander being rowed from his flagship to the shore Tn A pulltnw boat the oars manned hy me ca1,tains Of the war vessels of the neet. Admiral Evans Congratulated. .s washington, May s.-Coincident Evans flag at San Francisco today. act ing Secretary of the Navy Newberry. made public the correspondence which has v,assed between the admiral and inc navy department in anticipation Of that event, included an expression or the presidents regret. transmitted through Secretary Metcalf that the admiral has been obliged to ask Tor de- tachment and conveying congratuia- fions on his successful voyage and wishing for him the speedy recovery of his health.
 Admiral Evans in a letter transmit ted by Secretary Metcalf. is directed to proceed to his home making stops at such points as may suit his conven- fence.
 In this letter. Secretary Metcalf con graduates the Admiral on the success ful termination of this last duty in your naval career afoat," and com mends him for the high state of effi- ciency of the command on the hauling down of his flag.
 On April 27. Admiral Evans. in ac- knowIedging the receipt of the order detaching him from command of the fleet. said -. which it gives me to find in this official order the departments congratulation upon my performance of duty with this fleet. and it's commendation for the state of ehiciency of the fleet, and my anpreciation of its action in expressing this congratulation and conlmendatlon in the order which brings to an end my long service afoat in the navy or my country"