Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-19
Admiral Evans Closes Active
Service in the Navy.
RECEIVES A LOVING CUP
lone of the Most Honorable Careers,
President Writes.
GATHERING AT LAKE MOHONK
Fighting Bob Tells of His Love for
the Flag-Withdraws in
Contentment

LAKE MOHONK. August 19.-Rear
Admiral Robley D. Evans was siXty-two
Years old yesterday. and that being the
naval age limit he retired to private life
after active service of forty-eight years.
From every part of the United States
came letters and kilograms to the adj
mral from friends in official and private
life. while scores came from persons who
knew him only by reputation as the ia
nous Fighting Bob of the American
navy.
President Roosevelt sent long mes
sage, in which he referred to the career
of Admiral Evans as one of the most hon.
orable in the history of the public service.
and Rear Admiral Pillsbury. chief of the
bureau OF navigation, said that to Admiral
Evans was due the high state of efficiency
of the Atlantic fleet
The parlOrS of the Lake MohOnk House
were crowded last evening for a ceremony
Of presenting to the admiral silver low
ing cup.
Present Loving Cup
j. Edward Simmons. president of the
New York Chamber of Commerce. was
the master of ceremonies. while DR.. An
drew S. Draper of Albany, the president
education, presented the cup.
In the decorations of the main parlor
was an American flag which flew on the
battleshfp Iowa, of which Admiral Evans
was the captain in the battle of Santiago
The flag that was on the battleship Con-
necticut. the admirars flagship, in the
famous cruise of the Atlantic fleet from
Hampton roads to San Francisco, was
also used in the decorations.
Mr.. Simmons in his speech referred to
Admiral Evans as a hero whose record is
without a stain and whose career sheds
luster upon the American navy.
Battleships VS.. Politicians.
In a newspaper interview which was
recently called to my attention." he said.
Admiral Evans pithily and truthfelly OBJ
served that if We had more battleships
and fewer politicians who pass as states
men We would have more peace and, Of
necessity. less war. Out of love and ad-
miration for Admiral Evans, and directly
in line with his brave and patriotic teach
ings. 1t behooves those of our legislators
who are advocates of peace to guarantee
and promote peace by increasing If pos
sible the strength of that arm of our mill
tary equipment which will surely make
us most effective In defensive war.
Now that We have become a world
power, and now that our domestic af-
fairs. as well our responsibilities in the
fnlllpplneS, 1dndnnd. daWdIl, SuDa ana
Porto Rico subject us 20 constant danger
from the jealous and ambitious agrees
SionS of great naval establishments in
Europe as we'll as in the orient, 1t stands
to reason that both prudence and duty
now demand that we do precisely what
our kinsmen in the British isles long ago
found absolutely necessary for their self
preservation. That fact OF itself is enough
to prove the wisdom. the foresight and
the patriotism of the policy for which
honor.
confidently stands.
The best guarantee OF peace is an
ample provision of men and money for
war
Letters From officials.
Letters from President Roosevelt. Gov.
Hughes, ex-Secretary of the Navy Paul
Morton. Rear Admiral Pillsbury and other
we'll known men were read.
President Roosevelt's letter was as
follows:
Oyster Bay, n. Y, August 5. 1908
MY Dear Mr.. Simmons: l thank you
for your kind invitation. It is not pos
Through you may / convey to the guests
assembled my cordial sympathy with their
purpose. and to Rear Admiral Robley ID.
Evans in particular let me renew the as
surance of the high regard and esteem
which he already so we'll knows hold for
him. His has been one of the most hon.
orable careers Of our public service. All
good Americans owe him debt of graft
tude. In a peculiar degree his name typi-
fies the growth of our navy from the days
of Farragut to the days when Admiral
Evans himself brought into the Pacific
waters the mightiest war fleet that
had ever appeared west of Magellan or
east of SueZ, commanding this fleet dur
ing the first period of voyage such as
no other fleet OF the kind of any nation
has eve. taken. 1t is eminently apprO-
pirate that the reception to Admiral Evans
should be given in what you well call "a
veritable temple of peace. for the United
States Navy is the best guarantee of
peace we have and men WHO believe in
the peace of justice throughout the world
should do everything that in them lies to
maintain and build up this navy. Sin
cerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"