The San Francisco call., 1908-05-09

feet in the American Pacifie, ask that
the man whose hand guided it, and
whose soul inspires 1t, may be made to
be Vice Admiral Evans"
Seated at Mayor Taylor's right were
Secretary Metcalf. Governor Gillett.
Judge Beatty. Admiral Emory and
Francis ]. Heney. During the evening
Heney and Judge Beatty exchanged
toasts. On the left were Admiral
Thomas, Governor Sheldon, Admiral
Dayton and James D. Phelan.
Admiral Evans entry came just as
coffee was being served. AS soon as
the applause was checked he said:
II am glad to have the pleasure Of
saying a few words to tts people Of
the state Of California. 1t is unfortu-
nate for me and a great disappointment
upon reaching California to find myself
unable TO join In the Festivities pre-
pared for the Atlantic fleet But 1 had
a good friend by the name of Symmes
who told me that the mineral springs
of California, which ne said were the
best in the world, would cure me. So
went to Paso Robles and had been
able to stay longer / would have been
almost cured.
But / came to San Francisco because
l said I would come. would have
been q good deal worse IL I hadn't
What little rheumatism there was in
me was taken out by the kind voices
of the people OF San Francisco yester-
day.
People ask me why the Atlantic
fleet was brought to the Pacific? My
only answer is that I was told TO bring
1T here and here 1T is. ! may say with
out violating the confidence of Secre-
tary Metcalf and President Roosevelt,
those men who have done so much to
build UP the navy, that this is a peace
full cruise, but that I was prepared to
fight If necessary.
And so present the Atlantic fleet.
ask you TO be good to ii and to the
men. They are all wool and a yard
wide and ready to fight when necessary.
soon / will end my career of As
many changes since the day / entered
the service. I have seen the ships
brought to their present standard. It
used to be said that a line officer could
not boil water without burning 1t. Yes,
for a long time il was said that a line
man could not boil water without burn
ing it or something else. That whole
feet is run by line officers I'll under
take TO take it to sea tomorrow and run
1t at full speed without injury to one
of those ships.
You have heard a good deal about
the arrnor line and the armor belt
and / see here the man who started
the matter, but, gentlemen. there is
no greater failacy, think, than to
speak of battleship's effectiveness be-
cause Of it's water line armor. The
man who can shoot straight and stand
the longest Is the man who viii win,
whether the aTmor belt is of leather.
eggs or anything else.
That we need big navy goes
without saying That is a matter for
Congress and not for the officers. 1t
is for congress- to give us the ships and
for US to handle them. II you want TO
preserve the peace of the world give
US more battieships and fewer states
men, Give us battleships and we Will
keep the peace even il we have TO
the button and we viii do the rest
Mr. Mayor. gentlemen of San Fran
cisco. I have no words to express my
thanks to YOU ! only wish / had the
silver tongue OF the secretary Of the
navy to express to you what l feel
for your kind words. / feel grateful
from the bottom OF my heart. Every
officer and man OF the fleet, and they
are gallant band. Will ever remember
what YOU have done for them And
now I bid you good night and goodby.
MAYOR TAYLoR's SPEECH
Mayor Taylor, In opening the speech
making, said:
Mr.. Secretary Metcalf, Admiral
Thomas and officers Of the American
feet, on behalf Of san Francisco I