The sun., 1908-03-18
EVANS LEAVE FLEET, NAY 5
SPERRY WILL COMMAND DUR
ING $4,000 MILE VOYAGE.
Admiral Thomas to Fly His FiAE As Com.
mander-ln-Chlef From End Of San
PranclscO Parade Until start II Made
for the orient Captains to Move Up.


WASHINGTON, March i7.--Rear Admiral
Robley y. Evans Ia III and, at his own
request, he will be relieved from command
Of the great feet OF battleships on May g.,
at the close Of the naval review in San
Francisco Bay.
He will be succeeded In command of
the feet temporarily by Rear Admiral
Charles NJ Thomas, now commanding the
second squadron, but before the fleet
starts from San Francisco for the Orient
Admiral Thomas will also be relieved
and the feet will complete its cruise around
the world under command Of Rear Admiral
Charles s. Sperry, now commanding the
fourth division.
This schedule Of changes was announced
to-day after the matter had been talked
over by the President and Secretary OF the
Navy Metcaf at the regular Cabinet meet
ing. Secretary Metcalf had received
telegram from Admiral Evans dated At
Magdalena Bay asking that he be relieved
Of command after the San Francisco cere-
monies. He said that he was in poor health
and that his physician had recommended
this step.
II was foregone conclusion that Admiral
Evans would not have command OF the
feet after il left San Francisco for Hawaii,
Samoa, Australia and the Philippines.
He will reach the statutory age Of retire.
ment--62 years-on August is, and It is
contrary to the policy Of the naval admins
tration 10 keep retired officers on sea duty.
In addition he has been III on the cruise
from an attack Of rheumatism, an old
enemy Of his, and he was forced for
while to turn over the active command OF
the feet 10 Admiral Thomas,
The announcement was made also that
the feet will leave San Francisco on its
cruise into Australasia on July 8. On that
day. according to the Official information
disclosed, Admiral Thomas, whose retire.
ment is due on October /, will haul down
his two starred flag and be succeeded in
command by Admiral Sperry. From that
time on until the feet returns 10 the At
lantic coast Admiral Sperry, IL was eX-
plained. would he In supreme command
On July II Capt. Seaton Schroeder Of the
Virginia and Capt Richard Wainwright OF
the Louisiana. both Of which bsttleships
are included in the feet will be promoted
10 the grade Of Rear Admiral, and II has
been decided that TO each shall be given
the command Of a division Of the fleet.
The command Of the second squadron and
the first division Of that squadron will
20 to Rear Admiral William H. Emory.
now in command Of the second division OF
the first squadron. Each squadron con-
ssts Of eight battleships and each division
Of four batteships,
Capts Schroeder and Wainwright are
brothers-in-law and Rear Admiral Emory
Is a cousin Of Capt Wainwright Admiral
Emory, Capt. Schroeder and Capt. Vain
wright are members Of old Washington
families. All three we're born in this city.
Admiral Emory will reach the retirement
age on December II, but 1t Is probable that
he will not be detached from the feet in
anticipation Of that event
Capt Wainwright 10 a great favOrite
with both the President and Mrs Roosevelt.
He attracted the Presidents attention
while Mr.. Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary
OF the Navy and won his admiration by his
conduct in the naval battle Of Santiago
on July 3. 1898. Capt. Wainwright then
commanded the little CONVERTED gunboat
Gloucester, formerly j, p, Morgan's yacht
Corsair. When the Spanish armorclads
emerged from Santiago haroor Capt.
Wainwright. realizing that his tiny ship
would be of no account in a contest with
them, waited for the appearance OF the
torpedo boat destroyers which were known
10 be with the enemy's squadron. AZ the
destroyers ran out Of the harbor close
behind the armorclads the Gloucester
closed in and drove them ashore. In his
comments on the findings Of the Schley
court Of inquiry President Roosevelt re-
ferred TO this incident In terms Of the highest
praise,
When the President and Mrs. Roosevelt
decided TO 60 TO Panama in 1906 the Presi-
dent selected the Louisiana as the vessel
in which TO make the vayage. Capt
Wainwright then as now commanded the
vessel, and when the cruise was over a
very warm friendship existed between
her skipper and Mr.. and Mrs. Roosevelt
OnIDecember 10, 1907, the day the battleship
feet sailed from Hampton Roads, marked
attention was shown 10 Capt Wainwright
by Mr.. and Mrs. Roosevelt when he went
aboard the Mayhower to say good-by to
the President.
SAN Francisco. Cal. March l7.-As Frank
], Symmes, chairman Of the reception COM
mittee in charge Il welcoming the feet
left for Magdaena Fay to-day on the supply
ship Culgoa the following wireless message
was flashed to Admiral Evans.
"A hearty welcome from the citizens Of
San Francisco awaits your arrival here. |
shall visit you by the steamer Culgoa to
discuss plans proposed by the Official COM
mittee for entertainment Of officers and
men Of the feet. FRANK j. STMMEs,
Chairman committee on reception and
parade.
The wireless station at Mare Island is
only occasionally and then almost aoci-
dentally in communication with the feet,
40 the telegram was relayed first to Los
Angeles and thence to Mexican waters.
Symmes bears with him the personal felici-
tations Of Mayor Taylor on the safe voyage
Of the feet and also carries the keys to the
city, which will be offered 10 Admiral Evans
on the flagship Connecticut,
Plans will be perfected during the visit
for the entertainment Of the sailors and
officers during their two weeks visit to
this city. The Mayors reception TO the
officers Of the feet will take place at the
Fairmount Hotel directly after the parade
- Ma, a Tho cnmunittaa has daCidad