The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-08
.SA.l|LOR|NEV
IN FRISCO
aEIGHT THOUSAND BLUE JACKETS
AND MARINES ASHORE IN
CALIFORNIA CITY.
EVANS IS CHEERED

canopied With colors and Are
Viewed by Thousands Secretary
MetcaIf to Review Anchored Fleets.
San Francisco, May Flight thou
i sand blue Jackets and marines-the
largest armed forced the American
navy has ever put ashore in time Of
peace or war-were landed today from
the combined Atlantic and Pacific
fleets now lying in the harbor, and
marched through the streets Of San
Francisco in the most notable parade
the city has ever known. For four
miles and a half along streets lined
and canopied with colors, and In view
of a never ending crowd, the men of
the fleets made their way to the mar
tial tunes Of their shipmate bands and
to cheers that began with the first
command to march and ended only
when the sailormen had again en-
barked in the small boats that returned
them to the battleships and armored
cruisers in the roadstead.
Twenty-Five hundred soldiers OF the
regular army, in full dress array, gra-
ciously acted as an escort to the WIS.,
1ting men of the sea and were literally
applauded The cheers, however, were
not all reserved for the sailors and
marines. Rear Admiral Evans, COM
manding the fleets, and the six other
admirals in command Of squadrons
and divisions, rode In carriages. sAd-
miral Evans was quickly recognized
by the thousands in the immense re-
viewing stands, and bowed a constant
recognition Of the cheering which was
caught up by the throngs ahead and
echoed by those In the rear as his car
riage slowly moved at the front Of the
4 marching columns.
High School Cadets.
Secretary or the Navy Metcalf, Gov
ernor Gillett Of California and Mayor
Taylor Of San Francisco rode In the
parade and afterward reviewed 1t as
/. 1t countermarched down Van Ness
avenue. In addition to the soldiers
and sailors there were large repre-
sentations from the National Guard
and from semi-military veteran and
civic organizations. A battalion Of
natty little high school cadets from
Salt Lake City acted as personal es.
cort To Admiral Evans In token Of his
having been appointed to the naval
academy from the state Of Utah.
Well Drilled Marines.
The two brigades Of blue jackets
and the regiment Of marines fairly
earned the ovation which was theirs.
The marines, 1900 strong, in uni
forms Of blue, canvass leggings and
white caps, with the striking red-cDat-
ed bands in front, headed the forces
from the fleets. Major Dion Williams,
fleet marine oflcer on the flagship
Connecticut, attended by stan, was
ii command. The splendid alignment,
quick evolutions and military bearing
Of the wen drilled men drew spon.
taneous applause from the densely
packed sidewalks, from the stands and
from the windows Of the many tall
buildings that fronted the streets
along the line Of march. The pic
turssque blue Jackets were command.
III by Captain Schneider OF the vir.
g;nia. who is soon to be elevated to
the rank Of rear admiral.
Problems Of seamarshlp.
Ihc landing Of the greay force q!
ss.!lors and marines involved pros
leras Of small boat seam ,rship aud
executive ability that was at once q
test and triumph Of the efficiency Of
the navy. It was q drill Of rare Inn
portance and was accomplished with
a dispatch that knew no confusion.
Sailing launches, cutters, gigs and
whaleboats appearing like q solid
patch of blue SO closely were they
flled-were formed by the various
ships Of the two fleets into divisions
and fotillas, and under command Of
specially designated small boat cap
taips and admirals were towed to land
by the sturdy little steam launches e
the landing barges.
Bay swarms With Craft.
The bay swarmed with the tiny
craft. and those who saw the maneu
vers Of landing marveled that out ol
these diminutive boats dancing ovel
the harbor waves 30 great q force q
that which appeared In the parade
could grow a. II by magic.
The route Of the parade. which va.