The San Francisco call., 1908-05-16
SPERRY BECOMES
FLEET COMMANDER
Thomas fiauls Down Flag and Is
Cheered by BIueiackets
While Departing

u. :. cruiser West Virginia, 1880 p.
n.-T The CaH. san Francisco; First
squadron Pacific feet will leave a. m,
May Il. for santa Barbara channel.
DAYTON.
The above dispatch was received by
The Call last night by wireless from
Rear Admiral Dayton in response to a
query asking him his intentions in the
face Of an order from the navy depart
ment AT washington giving him per-
mission TO leave san Francisco. It was
intended at first 10 send the Pacific
feet TO Puget sound. and later orders
were given TO remain at San Francisco
during the stay Of the Atlantic fleet.
Now the eight cruisers viii go south
ward for feet drill while the battleship
feet visits Puget sound
The crew Of the flagship Connecticut
dched the navy regulations yesterday
and gave three hearty cheers for Rear
Admiral Charles NJ Thomas as the re-
Iiring. commander in chief went over
the side after hauling down his flag
IT was a mild form of mutiny, but
being in a good cause and of brief
duration, was forgiven.
Admiral Thomas hauled down his flag
about 1920 O'Clock yesterday morn
Ing. The ceremony was short and sim
pie Omcers and men of the flagship's
crew were mustered on the quarter
deck. and before the ceremony began
Rear Admiral Charles s. Sperry came
over from the Alabama, where his flag,
however. continued to float. Admiral
Thomas read the order relieving him
from further duty with the Atlantic
feet and gave the signal that brought
his blue, white starred flag fiuttering
down TO the deck.
FLAGS DULY SALUTED
AS the flag came down 13 guns were
nred from the COnnecticut's three
pounder batteries. When the salute
had been fred Admiral Sperry's flag
hwas hauled down from the Alabama's
ain 10 the roar of salute from the
Alabama's guns.
While this was going on San Fran
cisco was getting an interesting OBJ
3ect lesson in naval etiquette. When
Admiral Thomas blue pennant was
hauled down on the Connecticut, the
red pennant that had fiuttered above
the West Virginia was changed for a
blue one. as the retirement of Ad-
miral Thomas left Admiral Dayton
commander in chief Of the Pacific fleet.
The senior officer present, the senior
admiral on sea duty, in fact, of all the
United States navy
When his red flag had been hauled
down on the Alabama and duly saluted
Admiral Sperry hoisted another red
rag on the Connecticut. If the Pacific
fleet had sailed at o'clock, as orig
inaly intended. Admiral Sperry would
have hoisted blue flag, and its ap-
pearance would have been the signal
Tor salutes from all the ships. The
navy regulations, however, do not per-
init the saluting Of any officer in the
presence Of his senior, so instead Of
Tc - -,
his honor Admiral Sperry was COM
PEELED TO fire, from the Connecticut, 13
guns IN honor Of Admiral Dayton's blue
flag.
BLUEJACKETS CHEER THOMAS
The ceremonies over, captains and ad-
nlirals from the other ships boarded
the Connecticut to pay their respects
70 the new commander in chief. In the
midst OF the brilliant confusion a bugle
called away the admiraIs barge The
boat came alongside the starboard
gangway. down which stepped Lieu
tenant x. G. Castleman in all the glory
OF official full dress. followed by a
rather small old gentleman in civilian
clothes, to whom nobody on board the
battleship but the sideboys at salute
seemed TO pay any attention. 1t was
Admiral Thomas, the retired COM
mander in chief.
The admiral climbed rather wearily
into his barge, his for Just one little
trip more. and the officer Of the deck
yelled shove off" As the barge left
the gangway a bluejacket. the leader
In the mutiny. shouted Hip hip" and
the sailors who manned the rail joined
in with a hoarse '1Iooray-" There were
three -ho0rays." and as the bluejackets
cheered again Admiral Thomas stood
up ia his barge and bowed his thanks
Admiral Thomas viii spend the next
three months in California. Admiral
Sperry viii take the fleet home.