The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-04-30

the coast for its hundred miles of sub
lime beauty, the Connecticut leading
the way. The bluffs along the course
were lined with tens of thousands of in
terested watchers, who can, if they
possess language half fit, describe to
future generations, a naval spectacle
such as may never again be witnessed
in those waters: spectacle OF Pease
and not of War, and still, one no less
thrilling than if its subjects were bound
on an errand of destruction.
| San Pedro harbor was the objective
point after leaving San Diego bay and
the run was made in rapid time. Hours
before the anticipated arrival, this beach
aud the blug5 in the vicinity of the har-
Dor were thropged with countless ex-
cited, enthusiastic spectators, At two
in the afternoon the watchers at Point
Fermin, straining their eyes eastward
along the broad sweep Of the bay, saw
a black smudge upon the horizon. Then
"a yellow speck hung between the blue
sky and the blue bay, wavered and in
slant and then turned northward along
the shore line. The yellow speck grew
into the three tunnels and below them
appeared the white hull of the Con-
necticut--tiny in the distance and dim
through the low hanging smoke haze.
Another yellow speck followed the first
and then another and another and so
the picture grew until the whole fleet
appeared to view, grand array of six
teen mighty battleships in one unbrok-
en- line. Over the waters, faint and far
away, the whistles of Long Beach gave
a SC rerming welcome and San Pedro
was not far behind in joining in the
clamor. There was no sound from the
Great White Squadron; only the i'm
pressve onward sweep of. the mig hty
engins. At post two miles from the
shore, string of flags futtered from
the Connecticut flagstaff, and the flag
ship scudded across the broad waters.
AT twerty minutes past three another
signal was seut up from the Connect
cut aud those who had glasses saw the
great enchor plunged downward and
the long line came to stop extending
as straight as an arrow across the half
moon bay.
This is but an inadequate description
of the spectacle which only the eyes
and the soul can fully interpret, and if
this were 10 be the end of the fleets
cruise 1T would still be recollection to
treasured in memory; but the demon
stration in American waters is not yet
begun, and the fleet is steaming north
ward to the Mecca of its hopes, -San
Francisco Bay, and there will take
place the great manoeuuers that must
far outclrss any past passive ancorage
in the bays of lower California. And
it will not be the feet that impresses
the throngs of San Diego and San Pedro
That, to b, sure, viii be present, but SO
vastly augmented that the final review
will include 4S vessels Ct all classes
trIly an impressive aggregation. The
festivities in and around San Francisco
will extend through a period of ten
days from May 9th to 18th the grand
review taking place on May 85h.
What was experienced in impressiv
ness with the arrival OF the Fleet at
San Diego and San Pedro, will be re-
peated at San Francisco, but it will be
increased one hundred fold. California
gave her welcome at San Diego and
San Pedro, but the whole nation will
exult at San Francisco for the honor of
country is never better expressed than
in the pride of Army and Navy, land in
this case the pride does not express the
exultation OF destruction and war, but
the pride Of power that makes for
peace.
The nation exults; the nation is proud
of its "peace navy" and the nation, or
as much of its citizenship as can steal
away, will be present at San Francisco
to bid welcome to the Great White
Squadron. 1t will truly b. grind
denomination and such one a. may
never be Witnessed again.