The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10

~ truck OF the Connecticut In San
Francisco harbor amid salute
OF thirteen guns, and tonight the first
commander-in-chief OF Americas fines,
battleshtp fleet is on his way to his
home In Washington to remain on
waiting orders until the date of his re.
tirement for age on his sixty-second
birthday-the 18th of August. Accom-
panied by members of his family and
his staff, Admiral Evans left at 6:20
|P. NJ
As the blue ensign fluttered down
from the after-brfdge. new flag of a
different design was broken in token
OF the presence of the new chief. Rear
Admiral Charles Thomas. The bunt.
Ing OF the new commander was salute6
by thirteen guns. fired from every ship
in the fleet, the waters OF the bay and
the green surrounding hills echoing the
signal shots.
On board each OF the sixteen battle.
ships, the six torpedo boat destroyer!
and the auxiliaries of the Atlantic flee
an address from the departing com
mander-in-chief was reed. Admira
Evans was not permitted by his ply
sician to go aboard the Connecticu
during the ceremonies attending hi
REIMBURSEMENT Of active naval service
Farewell to His Men.
His address In full was:
United States Atlantic Fleet, U. s.
S. Connecticut, Flagship
San Francisco. CAL. May 9. 1908.
Fleet General Order No. 9:
Upon relinquishing command OF
the United States fleet and hauling
down my flag this day aboard the
u. s. S. Connecticut. flasghip,
desire to express to the officers and
men Of this fleet my great regret
| at leaving them and my apprecia-
tion of, and hearty thanks for,
their continuous and loyal support
| It has been a source OF great satis-t
! faction and pride to me through
out my period tsof command. not
only to see the number OF vessels
in the fleet steadily increase and
TIE Units become more and more
! formidable, but to see the steady
Improvement In drill, shooting and
in everything that attends ef-
/ ficiency. and especially to witness
the growth OF that feeling of COM
radeship and spirit which trans
forms a group OF vessels into an
efficient war fleet.
IT am sure that both officers and
men feel this same pride In the
great increase OF efficiency In these
matters, and it has been accom-
plished through their loyalty and
zeal. To them extend my thanks
for all that they have done.
"1n taking leave of them / wish
to say to each and every one that
they have my warmest sympathy
and best wishes for continued pros
perity and good fortune in the flu
! ture. shall always watch their
1 movements with pride and interest.
i and trust they will extend to my
i successors the same loyalty and
hearty support that they have al
ways given to me. In order that I
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 war fleet Is and
J always will be a perfect source of
4 strength for upholding the safety
i and honor of our flag and a secur-
ity for such as pass on the seas
upon their lawful occupations.'
IT desire that this order may, be
i read as soon as possible at spe-
cal muster aboard every ship In
the fleet as farewell greeting
from departing con1mander-in-
|. chief, in whose heart the officers
and men will ever find the warm
est sympathy. "R. o. EVANS.
"Rear-Admiral. u. S. N, Command
Chief U. S. Atlantic Fleet"
NoPomp or Ceremony.
The salutes prescribed by naval reg
ulutions was the only manifestat
of pomp or ceremony attending AZ
I. T,hnn,aa'S aSSumntiOn spf con