The Glenwood post., 1908-08-22
RETIREMENT OF
ADMIRAL EVANS
FIHGTING BOB LEAVES THE SER.
VICE AT AGE OF SIxTY-TWo
YEARS.
BIRTHDAY GATHERING
SERVED LONGER THAN ANY
OTHER REAR ADMIRAL IN
THE NAVY.

Lake Mohonk, N. Y.-Far from grim
warships and the sea, where he spent
nearly half 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 sixty-two years Tues
day and passed from the ranks of the
country's active sea fighters.
His has been the longest service, but
two years short of half a century, of
any man who has reached the office
of rear admiral in the United States
navy.
All through the day the hotel was
thronged with admirers of Fighting
Bob eager to congratulate him on the
sixty-second birthday and to wish him
many more happy and useful years.
| kilograms by the score reached him
/ from all parts of the country, all ex-
pressing felicitation and affection for
up the American navy.
Many of the messages brought de-
lighted smiles to the admiral's face,
while others brought just a suspicion
of moisture to his eyes. The telegram
in particular which caused Fighting
Bob" many smiles came from an old
friend in Washington and said:
For some of us, skipper, your flag
will always fly"
Sailors, soldiers, statesmen and civil
ians, in fact every walk in life. was
represented in the great outpouring of
messages which came to him today.
In reply to friend who asked the
Admiral how he felt on his sixty-sec-
ond birthday, he replied characteristic
cally:
Fit as fiddle. am sixty-two years
young today and | expect to reach a
hundred. | am taking on flesh at the
rate of half a pound day, and | have
not got thing to do but loaf. Who
would not get well under such cir
cumstances ?"
Asked regarding the probable effect
of the cruise of the fleet around the
world which he commanded from
Hampton Roads to San Francisco. the
| first stage of the long journey, the ad-
miral said that he believed its influ-
ence was already being felt. That the
cruise would add more than mere pres
tige to the United States as a world
power, the Admiral asserted in no un-
certain tones. He said it was the
greatest disappointment of his life that
he was unable to keep the command at
least until he could visit Japan, where
he had great many friends among the
| statesmen of that country
Questioned in regard to the war talk
between the two countries, the Admiral
said that there would never be any
war unless the United States forced it
upon Japan. He said the Japanese are
sensitive people and the greatest lit
tie fighters in the world, and 1t is not
wise policy to annoy them too much.
The formal celebration in honor of
the Admiral took place this evening in
the large parlors of the Mountain ho-
tel. The room was gaily decorated
with American flags, but the feature
which attracted the attention of every
body was a battle SCARED flag which
the Admiral carried on the Iowa during
the battle with the Spanish fleet at
Santiago Albert X. Smiley introduced
as presiding officer Of the ceremonies
J. Edward Symmonds of New York
Mr.. Symmonds believer a eulogy of the
Admiral.
A large number of letters from men
distinguished in public and private life
were then read by Mr.. Symmonds. That
from the President follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Symmonds:-I thank
you for your kind invitation 1t is
not possible for me to accept, much
to my regret. Through you may
convey 20 the guests assembled my
cordial sympathy with their purpose
and to Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans,
in particular let me renew the assur.
ance of the high regard and esteem
which he already knows hold for him.
His has been one of the most hon.
orable careers of our public service.
In peculiar degree his name typi.
fies the growth Of our navy from the
days of Farragut to the day when Ad-
miral Evans himself brought into the
Pacific waters the mightiest war fleet
that had ever appeared west of Ma.
gellan or east Of Suez, commanding
this fleet during the first period of a
voyage such as no other fleet of the
kind OF any nation has ever taken.
1t is eminently appropriate that the
reception to Admiral Evans should be
given In what you well call a veri-
table temple of peace for the United
States navy is the best guarantee
OF peace we have, and all men who
believe in the peace of justice through
out the world should do everything
that in them lies to maintain and
build up this navy"