Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-16
REAR ADMIRAL
SPERRY ASSUMES
FLEET COMMAND
THOMAS HAULS DOWN FLAG
FROM CONNECTICUT
NEW COMMANDER WAS DELE
GATE AT HAGUE CONFERENCE
Emory Transfers Flag from Georgia
to Louisiana and Reorganiza-
tion of Squadrons Is
Accomplished

SAN FRANCISCO. May 15.-Rear Ad-
within six months from a mission of
peace as one Of the American delegates
to the conference at The Hague, as
sumed command of the largest force of
| first class fighting ships assembled in
the history of the nation.
Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas,
who succeeded Rear Admiral Evans as
commander in chief of the Atlantic
fleet, hauled down his flag at 10:40 a. m.
from the truck of the Connecticut, and
ten minutes later Admiral Sperry was
received on board the flagship with the
salutes and other naval honors befitting
his position.
| The ceremonies were carried out in
| brefest possible fashion and in strict
accordance with naval regulations.
Admiral Thomas. who had had actual
command for only six days, although
| he served for many weeks as senior
officer during the enforced ab5...oo OF
Admiral Evans, issued no farewell adj
dress. The honor of being rowed
ashore also was dispensed with at his
| oWI iCHuSSt, anu ICtuIiiCQ " thC
wharf in a steam barge.
Fleet Reorganized
When Admiral Sperry took command
the reorganization of the fleet imme
diately was carried into effect and
| throughout the noon hour the waters of
| the bay echoed the call of bugles the
| ruffle of drums and the strains of mar
| tial music from half a dozen quarter
decks. Rear Admiral w. H. Emory
transferred his flag from the Georgia
to the Louisiana, the new flagship of
the second squadron, third division.
Capt, Richard Wainwright gave up
the triangular flag of senior division
| officer on the Georgia. s-t "a
| He commands the second division.
Capt. Seaton Schroeder, commanding
the Virginia. assumed command of the
fourth division and took up his quar-
ters on the new flagship Wisconsin.
Both Capts. Schroeder and VAIN
wright will be promoted to the grade of
rear admiral in July. Although still an
independent force to all intents and
purposes, the Atlantic fleet passed tech
| nically and temporarily today under
control OF the Pacific feet.
Rear Admiral Dayton, commander in
chief of the Pacific fleet, outranks Ad-
miral Sperry. and as soon as Admiral
Thomas blue flag was run down on the
Connecticut he became senior officer in
command of the combined fleets.
Cruisers Are Held
1t had been intended that the Pacific
fleet should sail early this morning and
thus avoid the ensuing complications of
change of command, but under orders
from Washington the cruisers are held
here to await further instructions.
For the first time since she went into
1C ,y,,fc a CNNnorfto,.f &c
ing the position Of a subordinate flag
ship, and the red ensign of junior rear
admiral Is flying from her truck. The
honor of O. salute from all the vessels
of the fleet could not be paid to Admiral
Sporty today. but will be fired as soon
as the Pacific fleet leaves. or as soon as
the Atlantic fleet sets sail for Puget
sound points Monday morning at 10l
o'clock.
Admiral Sperry was saluted today
when he hauled down on the Ala
bama by the guns of that vessel and
was saluted by the Connecticut as he
went aboard that flagship.
The hauling down of Rear Admiral
Dayton's red flag and the flying of his
blue pennant OF senior command called
out salute of thirteen guns from the
flagship West Virginia of the Pacific
feet.
Pays Parting Salute
The Connecticut also paid a parting
salute to Admiral Thomas. Although
he will not retire until October next,
Admiral Thomas today ended his active
naval career of nearly forty-seven
years. He served as second in COM
mand to Rear Admiral Evans during
the recent trip of the Atlantic fleet and
during the Illness of the commander in
chief had to assume all of the social
and official duties incident to the call
I~s.f hi t1a yrx.t<. u,
American ports. AS the fleet was
steaming into Rio Rear Admiral
Thomas received a wireless message
from Admiral Evans telling of his ILL
ness and asking that Admiral Thomas
represent him in receiving and paying
official calls. etc.
At Rio, at Punta Arenas, at Callao,
Lima. Magdalena Bay and at all of the
California ports at which the fleet has
stopped Admiral Thomas attended all
of the official functions and made all of
the official addresses To Admiral
Thomas loyalty to the commander in
chief. to his tact. personality and
graciousness of manner the officers of
the fleet attribute much of the diplo-
matte success which attended the cruise
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The \
calls made upon him were calculated to
wear out much younger man, but
with tireless energy and at the expense
of practlcally all perSoldl rest ana
comfort Admiral Thomas attended all
the functions where his presence was
required.
Trophy Transferred
Under orders from Admiral Sperry
the bronze battleship target practice
trophy today was transferred from the
battleship Illinois of the Atlantic fleet
to the armored cruiser Maryland of the |
Pacific fleet. and the trophy pennant of
red was broken from the fore truck Of
the latter vessel.
While the ordnance officers of the
visiting fleet regret the loss of the |
trophy they are we'll content with the
results OF the record target practice. |
inasmuch as no less than six of the six
teen battleships are included in the
star ship" class.
This means that all six came within
SO per cent of the wonderful score made |
by the Maryland 4