The Colorado statesman., 1908-05-16
ADMIRAL EVANS
LEAVES FLEET
TURNS OVER THE COMMAND TO
REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES M.
THOMAS.
TO RETIRE IN AUGUST
HIS ELOQUENT ADDRESS OF
FAREWELL is READ ON EACH
OF THE SHIPS.

San Francisco, Cal.-Rear Admiral
Robley d. Evans flag was hauled down
Saturday from the main truck of the
battleship Connecticut in San Fran
cisco harbor amid a salute of thirteen
guns, and the first commander-in-chief
of Americas first battleship fleet is
now on his way to his home in Wash
ington to remain on waiting orders un-
til the date of his retirement for age
on his siXty-second birthday, the 18th
of August
Accompanied by members of his fam
lily and his staff, Admiral Evans left
at 6:20 p. m. No advance announce
ment of the hour of departure had been
made, in order that crowds at the ferry
terminal and the Oakland railways
might be avoided.
AS the blue ensign OF the retiring
commander fluttered down to the after
bridge of the Connecticut, a new flag
of similar design was broken out in
token of the presence of a new chief
Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas, who
brought the ships from Magdalena bay
to Santa Cruz, and who acted for Ad-
miral Evans at all the South American
and Southern California social func-
tions of the cruise, taking over control
of the big fleet in his own right
The new commander was saluted by
thirteen guns, fired from every ship in
the fleet. On board each of the six
teen battleships, the six torpedo boat
destroyers and the auxiliaries of the
Atlantic fleet an address from the de-
parting commander-in-chief was read.
Admiral Evans was not permitted by
his physician to go aboard the Connec-
] il1rinU Of limo
his REIMBURSEMENT of active naval serv-
Ice. The address expressed the great
regret the admiral felt in leaving the
ships and his thanks for the loyal sup
port of the men and officers during his
long tour of command. The address in
full was as follows:
United States Atlantic Fleet, U. S.
S. Connecticut, Flagship
San Francisco, Cal, May 9, 1908.
Fleet General Order No. g.
Upon relinquishing command of the
United States Atlantic fleet and haul
ing down my flag this day aboard the
U. S. S. Connecticut, flagship, desire
to express to the officers and men of
the fleet my great regret at leaving
them and my appreciation and hearty
thanks for their continuous and loyal
support. 1t has been a source of much
qualification and pride to me through
out my period of command, not only to
see the number of vessels in the fleets
steadily increase and the units become
more and more formidable, but to see
the steady improvement in drill shoot.
ing and in everything that tends to eff
ficiency, and especially to witness the
growth of that feeling of comradeship
and spirit which transforms a group of
vessels into an efficient war fleet
am sure that both officers and men feel
this same pride in the great increase
of efficiency in these matters, and, as
it has been accomplished through their
loyalty and zeal, to them l extend my
thanks for all that they have done.
I'm taking leave of them, l wish to
say to each and every one that they
have my warmest sympathy and best
wishes for continued prosperity and
| good fortune in the future. | shall al
ways watch their movements with
pride and interest, and trust they will
extend to my successors the same 10y
atty and hearty support that they have
always given me in order that may be
able to see from my home the fleet
which | am now leaving progress
steadily in efficiency, so that it may
justify the faith of our people that our
feet source of strength for upholding
the safety and honor of our flag and
security for such IS pass on the seas
upon their lawful occasions
81 desire that this order may be
read as soon as possible at special
muster aboard every ship in the fleet
as farewell greeting from departing
commander-in-chief, in whose heart
the officers and men will ever find the
warmest sympathy.
| (Signed) "R. D. EVANS,
"Rear Admiral u S. N,
"Commander-in Chief United States At
lantic Fleet"
The salutes prescribed by naval reg
ulations were the only manifestations
of pomp or ceremony attending Ad-
miral Thomas assumption Of COM
mand. 1t was his desire that the re-
quirements of the occasion should be
as simple as possible. Not long after
his flag was flying he had returned to
the shore to participate in the welcome
which Oakland, across the bay-de-
sired to extend to the fleet.
Alter a late night ashore, attending
the city banquet at the st. Francis and
the Greenway ball at the Fairmont ho-
tel, senior and junior officers alike
were turned our early next morning to
march in brigade parade Of blue
Jackets and marines from the combined
fleets through the streets Of Oakland
and In review Of the secretary Of the
navy. Oakland being his home city.
Another long week of neverending
gayeties is before the officers and men
of the Atlantic feet here before they
set sail for Seattle and other cities on
Puget sound on May 18th.