Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-26
BIDFAREWELLTO
ATLANTIC FLEET
THOUSANDS GATHER AT SANTA
MONICA
WARsHlPS MANEUVER IN THE
HARRoR
Beautiful Spectacle Draws Cheers
from Vast Throng Which Assem-
bles In Beach City to Say
Good-by to Vessels
Continued from Page One,

shores of Santa Monica had never be-
fore witnessed.
To the thousands who arrived yester-
day and during the night there were
added new thousands who came by
train, by an unbroken procession of
electric cars, by automobile and by
nearly every vehicle that could be
spared from the requirements of busi-
ness.
Where the crowds were thick before
they now became congested. Men and
women climbed to roof tops. mounted
into the branches of trees and risked
life and limb in the effort to improve
their viewpoint.
Conspicuous in the great gathering
were the faded blue uniforms and the
battered slouch hats of the veterans of
the Soldiers home. to whom the visit
OF the fleet has been a most notable
occasion, That their patriotism is un-
diminished Is shown by the fact that
hundreds of the elder soldiers remained
at the beach all night, finding accom-
modations where they could, in order
that they might miss no part OF the
spectacle. The hour that elapsed after
the departure of the third division was
a tedious one. Eyes never wavered
from the gray fog bank that overhung
the southern horn of the crescent
shaped bay, but the moments passed
slowly and the wait was a tiresome one
for the many who had stood in their
places since daybreak.
Ships Sighted
It was a few moments after 7 o'clock
when a white shot f1ickered for an In
stant off Point Vihcente and was lost
to view. Again 1t showed, and again
there was only the fog bank. A mo-
~ Int and there were
two white spots and a cheer went up
as the fortunate possessors of strong
glasses announced that they could mako
out the dim outlines of the ships.
Scarcely ten miles away at this time.
1t was a full five minutes before the
four ships of the first division could be
distinguished as separate bodies. From
far down the beach came the faint
sound of cheering, and the black, un-
broken line of people extending Ave
miles down the beach wavered and
stirred uneasily as the crowds surged
forward for a better view.
When the buff of the Connecticut .
superstructure showed the fog appeared
to lift, and one by one the battleships
crept out of the misty background and
became a part of the picture. It was
fifteen minutes before the spectators
could count the full sixteen, and by
that time the Connecticut was drawing
abreast of Venice, about four miles
from shore. Here occurred the one
maneuver of the reunited fleet. OPP
posite Venice the Connecticut turned
sharply inshore, breaking the formation
that shrowed perfectly even at this re-
mote distance. Reaching the same
spot, the Kansas followed. and one by
one, like a file of we'll drilled infantry
men, the big warships turned their
curving stems toward the beach, re-
ducing their speed and looming larger
and larger as they approached the
white line of the surf
Signals Ships
A mile off shore the Connecticut was
barely under way. The signal Hags
iluttered, were withdrawn and appeared
again and the file of ships seemed to
mark time while the flagship reviewed
the formation.
A mile and a half from the beach the
Connecticut wheeled again, pointing
her nose northward and parallel with
the beach, where the people were waV-
ing flags and where the rusty guns
mounted on the Venice pier had begun
to boom out a salute of welcome, TO
which the etiquette of the navy for
bade a reply. Here for full quarter
of an hour the single line was broken
and the fleet appeared in three lines,
ward, another heading straight toward
the beach and the third paralleling the
first. but two miles farther out.
Viewed from the Santa Monica cliffs
tbe scene was one never to be for
gotten. In this perspective the 1ore-
most ships loomed large. the red of
their armor belts showing plainly, the
brass Of the decks glittering in the sun
light and their masts and smokestacks
forming q thick forest with cloud of
black smoke overhanging the blue
water of the bay.
Execute Double Turn
AS the battleships executed the
double turn they appeared in hopeless
confusion. So sharp was the cnange OF
course that each of the big vessels
nassed directly across the bow of one
OF the sister ships, and the people
viewed the unaccustomed sight with
some trepidation. fearing disaster
Rut as the Connecticut drew away
and each Of the succeeding ships with
drew from the group, maintaining an
exact interval of few hundred rect,
the momentary fear gave way to ad-
miration and the exhibition of seaman
shin was applauded by cheers and the
waving of flags.
Another quarter of an hour passed
before the fleet was again steamlng III
feet column. The line extended from
opposite Santa Monica to the southern
limits of Venice, distance OF four
miles or more. Here was afforded the
most magnificent spectacle OF the DAY:
Inclosing the harbor was the wall OF
fog.
ships showed against the blue water OF
the placid bay, and on either side the
high brown ridges formed te sheltering
arms of the crescent. Opposite Fort
Los Angeles the Connecticut turned
seaward, heading straight for the ex-
tremity of Point Dune.
Follow Flagship
= Again the succeeding battleships
marked time, and again they turned
exactly in the wake of the flagship.
For time they showed white and buff,
then the colors faded into one, and one