The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29

Waters-MeetlnE Wt.h the Chicago,
90 on BoARD Z. S. S. LOUISIANA,
go U. s.. BATTLE FLEET.
AT SEA ON THE PACIFIC, Feb. IS.
An act Of international courtesy, unprec-
edented In American naval annals at least
and probably unprecedented in the worlds
history, occurred yesterday in the harbor
Of Valparaiso, Chile, when Admiral Evans
sailed in and out OF the harbor, saluting
the port and then the President Of Chile
In person. II was a demonstration which
In not only It's immediate but It's far reaching
effects was worth probably more than a
quarter Of a century's exchange Of diplo-
matte notes and expressions.
Moreover, for sundry reasons which the
intelligent observer Of more OF less recent
events can appreciate, there was no better
place on the South American continent for
such aremarkahle performance. Especially
gratifying 10 Admiral Evans we're the
cordial messages Of thanks and esteem
he received by wireless. The last time he
sailed away from Valparaiso kind words
did not follow him. Thus does time and a
marked advance in naval power work
wonders in international affairs.
The greatest honors that the feet OF any
nation could pay to the head Of another
nation we're paid TO President Montt. They
we're precisely such as the feet paid to
President Roosevelt on the departure
from Hampton Roads. They differed only
IN their setting. Tho Gag Of another re-
public was at the msia. Three times as
many people witnessed the spectacle in
Valparaiso as observed it in Hampton
Roads, The saluting was In a foreign
port, grit about with lofty hills instead OF
the low lying and far distant shores Of
Chesapeake Bay Elaborately dressed ship
ping, flying the flags Of half a dozen nations,
added color to the scheme.
A great city tsrracsd up the mountain
sides made a holiday to gaze, first in silence
and then with cheers, at an armada which
meant not conquest but a visible message Of
safety from conquest by European Powers.
and an assurance that not only Chile hut
every other Power in South or Central
America could pursue the path Of COM
meroial and intellectual development Sc
ours from the envy and svarice Of other
parts OF the world. Exhibiting that feet
10 Chile was like showing her a paid up.
interminable insurance policy Of peace.
made out in the name Of all American peo-
pies. Judging from the responses il ELECTED
Chile liked the way the policy read,
Few hsrbors in the world are better
adapted for such a scene. There il no
deep bay. no narrow channel to choke the
entrance. The harbor is simply ali opaa
Toadstead Of the Pacific. All that Admiral
Evans had to do was turn TO one side. sweep
along the city front just outside the line
OF moored shipping and rass on. He was
on the broad swells Of the Pacific again
within an hour from the time he had turned
in shore. 1t YVES an hour Of education for
Chile, with a lesson in it that otherwise
she. could not learn in years, and at its
conclusion there was such a genuine note
Of appreciation in the exchange Of farewells
that any student Of the forces that work
for good or evil in international affairs
must have been glad that the courtesy call
was made.
ADMIRAL EvASs's CONGRATULATIONS.
One also could understand somewhat
the feelings Of Admiral Evans, who, after
II wa all over, sent this Characteristic
Evans message TO the fleet in words that
every man on every ship understood thor
oughly:
The commander in chief thanks the
officers and men Of the feet for the hand
some way they did the trick to-day
II was handsome and it was stirring. or
course the word trick was used by the Ad-
miral only in a ~oolloquial sense; there was
no trick about it, for il was simply going a
little out Of the way TO be nice and doesn't
to a people who for many years had mis-
trusted us and had said things too. But
what is the use Of being a big nation il you
can't be big hearted with II and show that
you don't hold resentments? A thousand
10 n that Chile's sincere friendship will
be ours for many, many years TO come.
TIE UNUSUAL IN The CRUISE.
Unusual as this cruise is, it is the unusual
and unexpected that have come out from IL
"A its salient features. The profound in
difference Of the people Of Trinidad 10 the
feet was unusual and something Of a
The eKuberant welcome and unre-
strained hospitality Of Brazil was unusual.
The Salutes 10 the flags exchanged be-
tween the fleets Of Argentina'and the United
Rates on the high ssas we're unusual. The
despatch Of a cruiser on the part OF Chile
10 It's most remote port and carrying our
Minister was unusual. The Vioe-Admiral
given all along the line TO Admiral
Evans, whether by accident or design, were
unusual. Having a warship escort the feet
through almost the entire length Of is coast
line, a. Chile did, was unusual. Lastly
the departure from an established pro-
gramme 10 run into the greatest harbor Of
another nation TO fire salutes to its flag
and President was unusual. II Ia hard 10
conjecture what there may be unusual in
the future for the feet, but every one ex-
poets il and no doubt 1t will come.
From the moment that the feet headed
out into the Pacific from the Strait Of Ma
Eellan, in company with the flagship Chaca-
buoo carrying the flag Of Admiral Simpson
Of the Chilean navy. there was much specu-