The Washington herald., 1908-01-12
Special Correspondence Of the Lafan News Bure
On Board Z. 5. s. Louisiana,

Special Correspondence Of the Lafan News Bureau
On Board T.. 5. s. Louisiana,
[. 5. Battle Fleet en- Route TO the Pacific
Trinidad, December a
7 call 'em Sweet Sixteen, sir" said
the bosn's mate to your correspondent as
Admiral Evans in the flagship Conneoti-
cut led the battle fleet past the capes Of
the Chesapeake out 10 sel just before
noon on December l6, and the gentle
swells lifted and lowered the bows of one
snip after another to nod their own fare
wells TO the Mayfiower at anchor near
the Tail Of the Horseshoe.
The officers and men had stood at at
tention TO receive the goOd-by and God
speed OF the President, and they had
thundered their farewells TO him from the
throats of the 2-pound barkers that spit
fire and snorted out great puffs Of smoke,
but when each ship began to find her
self she too made her good-by as only
dignifed ship could make il, taking no
orders from admiral or captain as to
when and how often she should bow to
the ship that carried the President
Each ship said farewell to her own
kind in her own way. There was no
noise about it, stately dignity marked it.
The fleet knew how TO say its own
good-by.
The elements were especially kindly. A
stlr northwest wind seized hold OF the
great streamers Of smoke that poured
over the tops OF smoke pipes. and as
these streamers frayed themselves out
against the blue sky and the bright sun
the breeze seemed TO lift them like so
many strands toward the southeastern
heavens. where some power wOve them
together 10 pull the ships along and give
them q fine send-Off. All of Monday and
Tuesday whoever il was in the kingdom
of Old Boreas that was doing the tug
ging on the ships made @ good JOB OF IT,,
for practically every vessel III the fleet
had 10 check speed constantly.
Evans Knows What lie Wants.
Admiral Evans had his own notions as
70 the way a great fleet should set sail
on a prolonged voyage, and as he was
the boss and had no time or inclination
20 indulge in the foOlishness Of senti-
ment, his commanding officers got down
10 business in a iiffy and took his orders
- only All acted as if sending "a fleet OF
sixteen battle ships on q 1900 mile cruise
We're a mere matter of ordinary routine.
The officers of the deck on all the ships
We're concerned chiefly about keeping
their proper distances the rnaVigatOTs
were taking bearings and already get
ting ready for figuring out attitudes and
longitudes the executive officers We're
going about 10 see that everything was
in proper order for routine at sea, and
Ia. rIgr an HA frif
casting their eyes about and keeping
their ears open. alert to correct any
move that might mar the performance OF
their ships I'm the exact OF open order
formation of the fleet.
Below decks In engine and FIRE rooms,
and in all the other of the scores Of places
where men watch and work in a WaT
ship. routine was established quickly
Strictly at noon dinner had been served
10 the men, An hour later mess gear had
been slowed and that most important
fiction of a modern man-of-war, that
exists nowadays in name only, the smOk-
ing lamp, had been put out, the crew had
turned 10. decks were being swept, and
ditty boxes were down.
Half an hour later provisions were
served, then the wheel and lOOkOuts were
relieved. followed by the hosting Of the
ashes, the relief Of the watch at eight
bells, and then came the usual evening
quarters and evening setting-up exer-
Cises. after which there was supper auG
rest
II was all very businesslike. Every
ship was doing the same thing at the
same time. True, the fleet had started
for San Francisco. but that was q mere
detail. so little has the matter OF desti-
nation 10 do with perfecting drill on d
war ship. It was cold business right on
the jump on every ship Of the fleet from
the instant that the formaIities Of saying
gOOd-by TO the President We're over
Sentiment and Business AT start.
Getting away from Hampton Road.
may have sent a lump into many a man.
throat. but not one showed it. On every
ship the band was playing the usual good
by medley composed of Home. Sweet
Home, The Girl Left Behind Me-
and AUD Lang Syne." The middle part
Of the medley brought thumps on the
decks with feet from ali hands, but there
was dead silence and stern looks ahead
when the beginning and end We're reached
over and over again.
a staff officer on the Louisiana showed
the attitude of the naval man. He haC
go in remote but conspicuous place or
the Tamparts Of Old FoTt Monroe so that
he could distinguish them easily with his
glass He told them he would be on tho
after bridge.
When the ship came near the station
of his family he stole far out on the
bridge, fixed his glass on the family grouI
and waved and waved his handkerchief
The answer came quickly and the flashes
seemed So many wigwags that a naya
officers wife might be expected to know
The officer stood it for about two min
utes. Then he pulled himself together
sharply, turned and walked away. He
faced the front and walked over to q
group of his mates.
Did you make out your people, Jones? :?
asked one of them who had noted what
was going on.
= believe they were over there some
where in the crowd was the reply with
an apparently unconcerned smile.
He had finished with that side OF his
existence. From now on he knew nc
family; his duty was to his fag and ship
What was that signal a the forward
truck? Had anybody made it out? HI,
thankful they were.
Waiting for the signal.
The bushes side Of the start was an
other story. Orders had been issued tc
steam in exact column, that is, one sbjT
directly behind its leader at distance
OF 400 yards from masthead 10 masthead
Steam was up; engines, steering gear, an.
nunciators. and al the rest of the modern
coudrivances had been tested; boats hoist
ed IN and gangways unrigged and ther
came the flagship signal TO get under
way.
How the men did step around and the