Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-15
evans LEAVES West
GIVES UP COMMAND OF FLEET
And GOES EAST.
On Board Each of the 16 Battleships
and Auxiliary Ships an Address Was
Read From Retiring Admiral-Ex-
presses Regret at Leaving and
Thanks Men and Officers.

Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans
flag Saturday was hauled down from
the main truck of the Connecticut in
San Francisco harbor amid a salue
of 10 guns, and the first commander
in chief of Americas first battleship
fleet left for his home in Washington,
d. c., to remain on waiting orders
until the date of his retirement for
age on his 62d birthday, the 18th of
August next. He was accompanied by
members of his family and his staff
AS the blue ensign of the retiring
commander tiuttered down to the after
bridge of the Connecticut a new flag
of similar design was broken out in
token of the presence of a new chief,
Read Admiral Charles M. Thomas,
who brought the ships from Magda-
lena bay to Santa Cruz, and who acted
for Rear Admiral Evans at all the
South American and southern Califor-
mia social functions of the cruise, TAX
ing over the control of the big fleet
in his own right. The bunting of the
new commander was saluted by 10
guns, fired from every ship in the fleet,
the waters of the bay and the green
surrounding hills echoing the shots.
Read Evans Address.
On board of each of the 16 battle
ships, the six torpedo boat destroyers
and the auxiliaries of the Atlantic
addraSe fror,,
commander was read. Admiral Evans
was not permitted by his physicians
to go aboard the Connecticut during
the ceremonies attending his relin-
quishment of active naval service.
The address expressed the great re-
great the admiral felt in leaving the
ships and his thanks for the loyal sup
port of the men and officers during his
long tour of command The address
in full was as follows:
United States Atlantic Flee, u. s.
S. Connecticut, Flagship, San Francis
CO., Cal, May 8, 1908:
Fleet General Order No. 9-Upon
relinquishing command of the United
States Atlantic fleet and hauling down
my flag this day aboard the U. S. S.
Connecticut, flagship, l desire to ex-
press to the officers and men of the
fleet my appreciation and hearty
thanks for their continuous and loyal
support. 1t has been a source of
much qualification and pride to me
throughout my period of command not
0nIv tO COO tho nuD,hor Of xyoee0Ie u,
the fleet steadily increase and the
units become more and more formid-
able but to see the steady improve
ment in drill, shooting and in every
thing that tends to efficiency, and es-
pecially to witness the growth of that
feeling of comradeship and esprit
which transforms a group of vessels
into an efficient war fleet. | am sure
that both officers and men feel this
same pride in the great increase in
efficiency in these matters, and, as it
has been accomplished through their
loyalty and zeal, to them l extend my
thanks for all that they have done.
In taking leave of them l wash to
say to each and every one that they
have my warmest sympathy and best
wishes for continued prosperity and
good fortune in the future. l shall
always watch their movements with
pride and interest, and | trust they
will extend to my successors the same
loyalty and hearty support that they
have always given to me, in order that
| may be able to see from my home
the fleet which l am now leaving
progress steadily in efficiency, so that
it may justify the faith of our people
that our war fleet is and always will
be perfect source of strength for
upbuilding the safety and honor OF
our flag and a security for such as
pass upon the seas upon their lawful
yocations.'
81 desire that this order my be
read as soon as possible at a special
muster aboard every ship in the fleet
as farewell greeting from a depart
ing commander in chief in whose heart
the officers and men will ever find the
warmest sympathy.
"ROBLEY D. EVANS,
Rear Admiral, U. s. Navy, Comman-
der in Chief United States Atlantic
Fleet"