Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-05-15
TURNS OVER THE COMMAND. TO
REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES M.
THOMAS.
TO RETIRE IN AUGUST
HIS ELOQUENT ADDRESS OF
FAREWELL IS READ ON EACH
OF THE SHIPS.

San ffanciScO, Cal.-Rcar Admiral
Roblcy ID. Evans nag was hauled down
Saturday from the main truck of the
battlcship Connecticut In San Fran.
cisco harbOr amid IA salute OF thirteen
guns. and the first commandcr.in.Chlef
OF Americas first battleship fleet Ii
now on his way to his home In Wash.
inston 10 remain on waiting orders IN.
Ill the dat" Of his retirement for age
on his slXty-sccond birthday. the 18th
OF August.
Accompanied by members Of his fam.
lily and his STAN. Admiral Evans LEFT
mt G:2O y. M. No advance announce
ment Of the hour of departure had been
made. In order that crowds nj the ferry
terminal and the Oakland railways
might he ayoIicd
AZ the blue ensign OF the retiring
commander iiuitcrcd down To the after
bridge OF the Connecticut. n new flaE
OF similar design WIS broken out IN
token OF the presence Of new chief.
Rear Admiral Charles n. Thomas. who
brought the ships from Magdalcna bay
to Santa Cruz. and who acted for AL.
miral Evans at all the South American
and Southern California social func.
lions OF tn" cTuIBc. taking over control
Of the big acct In his own right.
The new commander was saiuIcd by
thirteen guns. fired from every ship In
the fleet. On board each Of the nix.
teen bait!CshlpS. the six torp.'io boat
dcsiroycrs and the auSllinrlcs of the
Atlantic iicct an addrcSS from the de-
parting Commanicr'in'chlcf was read,
Admiral Evans was not permitted by
his physician to so aboard III" conncc'
ticut during the ceremonies attending
Ice. tn" address Expressed tho great
regret iic admiral felt In leaving the
ships aad his thanks for the loyal sup.
port OF the men and officers during his
long tour Of command. The address Ia
full was aE follows:
United States Atlantic Fleet. u. ).
$. Connecticut. Flagship.
San ftAnciHco. Cal. May .. 1905.
Fleet General Order No. ..
Upon TcllnGuiKhlns command OF ih"
United States Atlantic fleet and haul
ins down my IN. this day aboard the
u. s. s. Conucciicut. flagship. I desire
to cxpr-Es to the officers and men OF
the nc-l NY great regret ai leaving
them and my appreciation and hearty
thanks for their continuous and loyal
support. II has been source Of much
qualification and pride To me through
out my period of command. not only To
Hcv the number Of v"sHrlH In the nc"iH
steadily Increase and III" units b"cons
mor- and moTr formidable. but tn PC"
the steady Improvement In drill. shoot
Ing and In everything that tends To 81
iici-ncy. and especially to witness IN"
growth of that feeling OF comraicHhip
and spirit which transforms group ot
vessels into M efficient war fleet.
am sure that both officers ana men feel
this same pride In the great Increase
of efficiency In these matters. and. ~
Il has b.cn accomplished through their
loyalty and real. to them extend my
thanks for all iha, they hav. done.
In taking leave Of them. ! wish to
Esy to each anl every on" that they
have my warmcst sympathy and best
wishes for continued prosperity and
good fortune In the future. ! shall nj
ways watch their movements with
pride and intcrcsi. and trust they will
extend to my SUCCESSORS the same 10y
atty and hearty support that they have
always given inc In order that ] may he
able to sec from my home the fleet
which ! am now leaving progress
steadily In efficiency. SO that II may
Justify the faith Of our people that our
war fleet iE and always will be q per.
the safety and honor of our nag and
security for such as pass ON the seas
upon their lawful occasior..
Il desire that this order may he
read as soon as possible at a special
muster aboard every ship In the fleet
as a farewell greeting from departing
Conmandcr.in.chicf. In whose heart
the officers and men will ever find the
warmcst sympathy.
CSjRncd) "R. u. EVANS.
Rear Admiral u. s. n.
"Commander.in.C Chief United States At.
lantic Fleet"
The salutes prescribed by naval reg
ulaiions were the only manifestations
of pomp or ceremony attending Ad.
miral Thomas assumption of COM
mand. II was his desire that the re.
uuirpments of the occasion should be
Ms simple as possible. Not long after
his flag was flying he had returned TO
the shore to participate In the welcome
which Oakland. across the bay-dc.
sired to extend 10 the fleet.
Alter n late night ashore. attending
the city banquet at the st. Francis and
the Grecnway bail at the FaiTmont ho.
tel. senior and junior officers alike
were turned our carly next morning to
march in n brigade parade OF blue.
jackets and marines from the combined
fleets through the streets of Oakland
and in review Of the secretary OF the
navy. Oakland being his home city.
Another long week of nover.cndinr
gnyetics is before the officers and men
of the Atlantic Meet here before they
set sail for Seattle and other cities on
Puget sound on May 18th.