The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-15
fleet |. T. / |. L..EAVEs
FRISCO SOON
BATTLEsHlPs sET SAIL FOR Pu.
GET SOUND MONDAY.
RELAXATION HARMFUL
Admiral Thomas Looks Forward 10
Hauling Down the Flag Tomorrow
Forenoon-eoats Bring Thousands
oof sightseers Aboard. Z

Hauling Down the Flag Tomorrow
Forenoon-1oatsi Bring Thousands
oof Sightseers Aboard.
San Francisco, May IA. San Fran.
cisco's entertainment Of the Atlantic
feet is drawing to a close, and the
ships will set sail for Puget sound
Monday morning at 10 o'clock. The
three days Of steaming at sea are
looked forward to by the officers with
genuine pleasure as relief from the
arduous social duties that recently
have been imposed upon them. The
feet has been in home waters one
month today and during all that time
there have been but two evenings Of
quiet and rest for officers and men
afforded by night steaming. One
night was spent en- route from Santa
Barbara to Monterey and the second
night on the run from Santa Cruz to
San francisco. Under ordinary con
ditions in the navy, steaming at sea
would not be considered the most
restful of occupations, hut after the
strain and stress Of more than four
weeks Of gaieties ashore, the call Of
the ocean appeals strongly to every
officer, and to that heavy percentage
OF the men who have their hearts in
their work.
Officers Complaining.
A solid month of banquets, balls,
receptions, teas, parades, luncheons
and other entertainments, while won
sderfully expressive of California's
hospitality and joy over the coming
of the batt1eship squadrons, have
wrought much havoc to discipline and
efficiency aboard the vessels of the
Atlantic fleet. Executive officers.
who in plain language are the active
managers OF the various ships, are
complaining Of conditions aboard and
declare that much Of the splendid eff
ficiency attained during the long
cruise has been almost wiped out by
the relaxation that set in with the
commencement OF the long line Of
entertainments.
Complying with orders from Wash
ington, sailors have been allowed
shore liberty on the most liberal
lines ever known in the navy, 500
men being permitted daily to go from
each ship. There are always many
overtime men in such large liberty
parties as these, and consequently q
large number Of these first allowed
liberty are still ashore when the sec
ond division Of 200 set out for the
beach. In this way the crews are re-
duced to an extent that makes good
work dimcult. The ships are suffer-
ing in consequence.
Work lnterfered With.
The work that could be done with
reduced forces, the executive omcers
declare, is seriously interfered with
by the presence Of thousands Of sight
seers aboard. The visiting here has
been enormous and some excursion
boats as large as Mississippi river
packets have been run alongside the
Connecticut and the Minnesota, the
most popular Of the battleshipa in
the harbor and have unloaded per
feet swarms Of people on the for
ward and quarterdecks. The omcers
realize the value Of having the pub
lie see and become interested In the
navy and they are very hospitable in
their welcome to them, but at the
same time the disadvantages Of inter
rupted work and discipline on such g
long tour Of merrymaking and sight
seeing as the past month has AFFORD
ed, stand out forcibly in the minds OF
the men who are responsible for ef-
ficiency and accomplishments.
The neverending series Of enter
tainments provided for the ofacers
have at times practically robbed the
fleets OF the presence Of its commits
stoned force. It Is no longer an un-
usual condition for a lone watch Of.
hcer to sit at the head Of an empty
wardroom table where ordinarily
there should be from as to 30 Of his
shipmates at the mess.
Thomas Retlres IN October.
Rear Admiral Chas. M. Thomas has
been the storm-center Of the enter
tanning and has been most gracious
to his hosts everywhere. No matter
how late his presence has been re
quired the night before. he has been
punctuality itself at the next days
functions, with q smiling word of ap
probation Of the men and oficers
The admiral, however. cannot conceal
the pleasure with which he looks for
ward to the relief that will be hif
with the hauling down Of his nag q
commander from the battleship Con
necticut tomorrow forenoon. Admiral
Thomas will not retire until October
Inext, but he is stepping aside q thil
| time in order to enable Admira
] Isperry, who Is to take command. e
organize his sta6 and make his PLAN