The San Francisco call., 1908-05-07

were bent on the task OF pleasing this
man. for he is beloved OF them all. yet
he is no easy master.
Did & single ship swerve from It's
line or fail 10 make a perfect turning
IN executing A change of course. Ad
miraI 1nonas was quick with repri-
mand- Make signal poorly done he
would command, designating the re-
creant BY name, and Flag Lieutenant
Castleman would cry the numbers Of
the code Swapping on the flags the
men OF the signal corps would have the
signal ready 10 ny almost before the
words were uttered and up IL would
hy with a rush, telling the shame Of
some ship TO all the fleet Quick
execution Of orders here; no mfstakess
perfect discipline
But not always was it the word OF
reprimand that was blazoned by those
Haunting banners Just as often it was
4 brief note Of praise 10 be treasured
BY some ship or q formal order that
must be answered from every bridge.
and constantly came the reports from
the officers watching the position OF
the various ships-this one with an in
tervaI so yards short or that ore with
its interval heightened out too far-Ro
guess wor-.. but exact figures.
Long before the column OF ships had
rounded the point into the inner bay
the sun had dimmed itself behind light
clouds and the briIliance OF the scene
was lost in a gray haze. Still It was
clear and every ship in the line could
be seen from shore while from the
ships the city stretched out like a huge
map on Telegraph hill we saw q small
Speck IN the sky gradually growing
larger as Il dropped down toward US
before q swift breeze, and them as IL
came nearer IL seemed that Il must
lodge on our decks II was a mfnia-
ture gas balloon. not more than five
or six feet IN diameter, but carrying
suspended beneath IL huge key. gold
en in color. II sailed across our bows
only a few yards away and plunged
into the bay. yet surely it was an omen
Of good, this symbol Of the freedom
OF the city
Out from behind Angel island came
the cruisers Of the Pacific squadron
70 join our column for the circle
around the bay 10 Hunters point, and
then the Yorktown. bearing the flag Of
Secretary OF the Navy MetcaIf. came in
70 sight, and as the head OF the line
passed the smaller vessel the Connect
cut fred its saluting guns again The
pageant was nearly at an end but
but there was still to come the
maneuvers into line OF squadrous for
anchorage Leaving Hunters point be-
hind the Minnesota gIided away TO the
right OF the direction taken by the
nrst squadron and pointed the way
for its own squadron to the anchora ee
TO eastward
FLY HOLIDAY FLAGS
II was a beautifully executed move
nent The water barely rfppIed about
her PROV as the Minnesota gifded Up
abreast the Connecticut The anchor
age signal was flying from the bridge
and was repeated on every ship behind.
simultaneously nine anchors sprashed
into the bay. and at the instant the
streamers OF flags, dressing the ships
in the gayety Of holiday attire, ran UP
from Prov TO masthead. back TO mast
head and down TO stern
The huge cranes groaned and the
barges and launches were afioat in the
bay. lowering near at hand ready for
the official visits OF commanding Of
hcers or for trips TO shore SO the
armada came TO anchor. squadron by
squadron
As the last vessel came TO rest there
was q signal from the little Yorktown.
lying of toward Yerba Buena island
Il was addressed TO Admiral Evans, and
it read.
The secretary OF the navy congratu-
lates the commander in chief and the
officers and men of the Atlantic feet
on the successful termfnation of their
cruise from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
Admiral Evans answer flashed back
minute later
The commander in chief. officers and
men thank you very much for your
congratulations