The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1908-05-15
LEETSAREATFRISCO
FORTY-SIX BATTLERS FORMED
Line IN THE BAY.
All Vessels of Pacific Fleet Joined
Those of Atlantic and Made Grand
est Review Ever Held In History OF
Nation-Every Kind of Fighting
Craft in Procession.

The entry of the great Atlantic
neet through the Golden Gate into
San Francisco bay provided for the
most formidable and picturesque naval
display in the history Of the nation.
All the vessels of the Pacific heet
Joined the Atlantic battleships outside
the Golden Gate and steamed with
them through the harbor entrance to
the anchorage in the bay, where the
review of the navy was held. Prac-
tically the entire fighting force OF the
navy. with the exception of a few new
ly commissioned ships in the east n
a few gunboats in Philippine waters,
was in the great column of white n
buff vessels that threaded their way
between the headlands Of the gateway
Point Bonito on the north and Point
Lobos on the south.
Forty-six vessels were in n ana
the long column stretched as far out
to sea as the eye a see. The variety
of fighting craft ranged from the mass
i've {, O00-ton Connecticut down to the
little destroyer Fox, of only 154 tons
displacement.
Battleships, armOred cruisers, pro-
tected cruisers, gunboats, destroyers,
torpedo boats and auxiliaries-in tact,
every class of vessel in the navy save
the obsolete monitors-were repre-
sented in this remarkable parade
through the famous port entry.
The steaming of the ships through
the Golden Gate vas a far more i'm
pressive and enduring picture thar the
review at anchor, which is to be held
two days after the arrival. Read Ad-
miraI Robley d. Evans was on the
bridge oil the Connecticut, where he
commanded a full view of the fleet In
entering San Francisco bay. Strict
orders for a fair way for the host OF
naval vessels were issued by the
department OF commerce and labor al
Washington, and the scores OF eXcur-
sion steamers that took CROWDS
out to Angel island and beyond to
view the spectacle were under close
federal supervision. Revenue cutters
and naval launches p%atrolled the
pathway and keep excursion and pleas
ure craft out of danger.
Fluttering flags, navy pennants ant
streamer and Rear Admiral van
pictures are everywhere. Market stree
ia a long vista of bunting In the ma
tional colors, and flags waving + o
white poles so feet high every 100 feet
enc large and a cluster of five smalle
flags flying from each one, and termin
ating in a huge red, white and blu
shield on the tall ferry tower. Oh
each side of the tower, stretched Of
long wire cables, are words WELDON
to the Atlantic Fleet" in the kaleidos
copic colors of the international nav
signal code flags and pennant, Will
on Telegraph hill the word welcome
stands in letters so feet high, whic
can be read for many miles, and whic
at night will be Illuminated by 200
electric lights.
Relatives end friends came In froI
the north, south and from the east I
assist in the entertainment and to WI
ness the pomp and pageantry of a
event which, beyond kindlbng pride an
love of country, marks the beginnin
OF a new epoch in the development
the Pacific ocean. 1t is estimated thi
there are between 10000 and SOO,O'
people in San Francisco.
The Land Parade.
On Thursday, $4,000 men, 5000 fro
the feet, $500 from the Preside,
companies of national guards, G.. A.
and Spanish War Veterans, were
parade.
On Friday, Secretary of the Ma
Metcalf, on board the Yorktown, ]
viewed the combined Atlantic heet a.
the Pacific feet in the harbor4