The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-19
Far From BattIeships and Sea
''Fighting Bob" Sheathed
His Sword and Trade
Henceforth Is Peace.
COUNTRY is GRATEFUL
FOR HERO'S SERVICES.
Veteran Urges Maintenance
Of a Larger Navy and AS
serts 1t Will Add More Than
Prestige.

Lake Mohonk, N. Y, Aug. 19.-Far
from grim warships and the sea, where
he spent nearly half a century in the
service of his country, Rear Admiral
Robley D. Evans of the United States
Navy, who is at this quiet mountain
hotel, reached the age limit of 81
years yesterday and passed from the
ranks of the country's active sea
fighters. Here, where fourteen peace
have assembled, one of the
laid down his arms, probably never
again to take them up in the defense of
the country he has served SO well. His
has been the longest service, but two
years short of half a century, of any
man who has reached the rank of rear
in the United States navy.
All through yesterday the hotel was
thronged with admirers of Fighting
Bob" as his hosts of friends delight to
call him. kilograms by the score
reached him from all parts of the
country, all expressing felicitation
and affection for the man who has
done SO much to build up the Amer
lean navy A telegram IN particular,
which caused Fighting Bob" many
smiles came from an old friend in
and said:
For some of us, skipper, your flag
will always fly"
In reply to friend, who asked the
how he felt on his sixty-sec-
ond birthday, he replied characteristic
ally: Fit as a fiddle. l am 81 years
young today and l expect to reach a
hundred. I am taking on flesh at the
rate of half a pound a day and
haven't got a thing to do but loaf.
Who would not get we'll under such
Will Write for Magazine.
The admiral said he expected to stay
here until October, when he will go to
Washington to be associated with the
general board in an advisory capacity.
He added that he expected to do some
work before he left here, having ar
ranged with magazine to write
twelve articles on naval subjects.
Asked regarding the probable effect
of the cruise of the f:""t around the
world, which he commanded from
Hampton Roads to San Francisco, the
admiral said that he believed its in
fluence was already being felt. That
the cruise would add more than mere
prestige to the United States as a
world power, the admiral asserted in
no uncertain terms. He said 1t was
the greatest disappointment of his life
that he was unable to keep the COM
mand at least until he could visit ia
pan.
Questioned in regard to the war talk
between the two countries the admiral
said there never would be any war un
less the United States forced it upon
Japan. He said the Japanese are a
sensitive people and the greatest lit
tie fighters in the world. and it is moi
wise policy to annoy them toe
much
The admiral further said that Jap
ans attitude toward China was great
ly misunderstood in this country; that
it was not her desire to colonize
China, but that she merely wanted
to have hand in dire citing her poll
cies. He said the only interest the
United States should have in China
was to maintain the open door" Fur
ther than that America can not eX
pect to gain anything, he declared.
The admiral strongly asserted tha
the United States is in duty bound tt
maintain a large navy. He declared
that he has always held that our bes
guarantee of perpetual peace Is to be
so strong that other nations will bs
afraid of us.
Urges Larger Navy.
I'VE should have twenty-four battle
ships on both the Pacific and the At
lantic oceans" said the admiral. Six
teen of these should be in commission
in each ocean all of the time, witt
eight held in reserve
The admiral expressed it as hi:
opinion, formed through a long servic,
and study of the nations naval needs
that such fleet of battle ships woulC
not only guarantee peace, but woult
have inestimable value in promoting
American trade in other quarters o
the globe.
The formal celebration in honor o
the admiral took place in the larg,
parlor of the Mountain hotel TIL,
room was gaily decorated with Am
erican flags, but the feature whicl
attracted the attention of every bod,
was battle-scarred flag which tn,
admiral carried on the Iowa durin,
hn -