Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-05-10
REAR ADMIRAL
THOMAS IN
COMMAND
EVANS FORMALLY tIAULS
DOWN THE BLUE PtNNANT



thy Morning journal Special Lsnsed WlreI
I san Francisco. May Q.-Rcar Ad-
n,n.,I parlo, n r,.a,,.., o.,. ,.,,,.
'+'""@ "'h ''u'N
was hauI'u down from the main truck
of the Connecticut in san Francisco
harbor amid salute of thirteen runs
, -. -
""' ''l"s"t ''' llSt o"'''uahdel-'h-
rhlrl OF America IS lrst battleahtp tlcct
~ on his way to his home in Wash
nrt,p f., rcr,ob, an c,ni,i,c ,,d,,s
.,,,.r' n, n'''''e ,.
"''"' '''' "''' vi III" 'o'''e''leh' Ior
ago on his 62nd birthday the 18Th Of
August Accompanied by members OF
! his family ana his staff admiral
Evans left AT 6.g0 nm. No atvanc,
announcement of the hour of dcpat-
ture had been made IN order thar
crowds at the ferry terminal and
Oakland RAILWAYS tbcn might bc
avoided. As the blue ensign Of Tho
retirtnr commander futtorcd down "a
the after bridge or tho Conncrtirnt n
now flag Of similar. design was hrok
eu ont I'm token of the nrosrnre Of ,
now chief Rear Admiral Charles NJ
Thomas who brought tho ships from
MagdaIena BAY IA SANTA cruz, ANA
who acted for Admiral Evans AT AN
the south American ana southern
California fuuctions Of tho cruise.
taking over control of the bir nccr in
his own right The new commander
WAS 4aIuted bv thirteen runs nrcd
from every shin in the ncct. tho wa.
lrrg of the bav ana the green sur
rounding hills echoiug the signal
shots.
on board each of the sixteen bat
tIpthips the giX torpcdo boat destroy.
crs aud auxtlIarles Of lhe Atlantic
lcct an address from the departing
commanders m-rhlef was read
Admiral Evans was NOT permltlNl
hy his physician TO no aboard the
Connecticut During The ceremonies
attending his rclinduishmcnt of ac-
tive naval service The address oN-
pressed tho great regret the admiral
/ fslt in leaving the ships aud his
thanks for the loval support Of the
men and officers during his long tour
OF command. Tho address IN fun
follows.
United states Atlantic nect, United
States Battlcship Connecticut, fag-
ship. san Francisco, Cal, May .,
Fleet General order number .
Upon rolnqulshinB command Of
the United States Atlantic fleet and
hauling down my flag this IA, aboard
the United States battlcship Connactl-
cut flagship, ! desire 10 express to
the officers and men Of the fleet my
great regret at leaving them aud my
Of ana hearty thanks for
their continuous and loyal support
II has been q source Of much grati0-
cation and pride 10 me, throughout
my period of command, not only 20
see the number Of vessels In the fleets
steadily Increase and the units become
more ana more formidable, but 10 see
the steady Improvement IN drill,
and in everything that tends
to efficiency and to especially TO Wit d.
ness the growth OF that feeling Of
and spirit which trans
forms a group Of vessels into an eft
cient war fleet. | am sure that both
he officers ana men feel this same
pride in the great increase or off
,iency in these matters and as it has
lecn accomplished through their
oyalty and zeal to them I extend my
hanks for all that they have done.
an taking leave of them / wish 10
ay to each and every one that they
lave my warmest sympathy and best
wishes for continued prosperity and
rood fortune in the future. | shall
llways watch their movements with
,ride and interest ana I trust they
viii extend 10 my SUCCESSORS the sahc
oyalty and hearty support that they
rave always given to mo, in order
hat may no abie In scn from, ,n,,
lome the fleet which / am now icay-
ng. progress steadily In efficiency. 40
hat IT may Justify tho faith of our
,eople that our war ncct Is and al
yays VIII be a perfect source OF
ucuEth for uphoiding the safety and