The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-05-14
THE Big FLEET ON
FULL DRESS PARADE
MetcaIf Reviews Long Line OF
ArmorcIads.
EVANS TOO I'LL TO BE THERE.
Greatest Assemblage Of Warships in the
World in Picturesque Array in San
Francisco Harbor- Secretary Metcalf,
on the Yorktown, Steams Between
Powerful Fighting Craft.

San Francisco Especially The
combined Atlantic and Pacific fleets
of battleships, armored cruisers, tor
pedo-boat destroyers and auxiliaries
aggregating weight of displacement
the enormous total of more than
four hundred thousand tons--the
greatest assemblage of armorclads
thus far to mark the progress of
the American Navy to second rank
among the floating forces of the
world-were reviewed in picturesque
San Francisco harbor Friday by Sec
retary of the Navy Metcalf.
The A vessels of the two fleets
lay at archor in four long columns,
and proceeding from the Oakland
shore, the Secretary on board the
little gunboat Yorktown--a reminder
of the days when the Navy was In
its infancy - proceeded southwark
through the lines formed by the ar
mored cruisers of the Pacific fleet
nearest the Oakland shore and the
second squadron of the Atlantic
fleet, headed by the Minnesota.
Turning back to the north at the
end of these two lines. the York
town traversed the lane formed on
the starboard by the battleships of
the first Atlantic squadron and on
the port by the grim little destroy
ers.
The day was brilliant with sun
shine, and a signing breeze from the
west set the waters of the hill-pro-
tected bay dancing in whitecapped
waves. The heavy battleships and
cruisers, gay with fluttering signals
flags of full dress, paid no heed to
the whistling wind, but the destroy
ers rolled and swayed in the trough
of the seas.
Hills Black With People.
Excursion craft crowded about the
anchorage area and gave the patrol
boats plenty of work. They added
many touches of color to the scene,
however, and gave the people of the
bay cities who again made black the
hillsides their second splendid watel
pageant within three days. The re
view, however, was the last of the
show features on the waters, for sooI
the ships will be departing, some tc
go to the navy yard for repairs and
others of the Pacific feet starting
south on a practice cruise.
Rear Admiral Evans, who hac
hoped to end his active naval career
by participating in the official cere'
monies, was not permitted by his at
tending physician to go aboard the
Connecticut. Rear Admiral Charles
NJ. Thomas was again the senior of
ficer. Admiral Evans, who returned
to the fleet at Santa Cruz the day
before it sailed through the Golden
Gate, in completion of the originally
planned cruise, has made his home
on shore at the st. Francis Hotel
since the afternoon of the arrival
He rode in the long parade and was
quite fatigued by the trip.
Thomas Brief Command.
Admiral Evans leavetaking of the
fleet thus will date from the journey
through the Golden Gate, when, clad
in the double-breasted frock coat OF
"undress B." the official uniform for
entering port, he stood upon the
bridge of the flagship for the last
time.
Accompanied by members of his
family and by officers of his personal
staff, Admiral Evans will leave for
his home in Washington, where he
will remain awaiting orders until the
date of retirement on his siXty-second
birthday, August IS.
Admiral Thomas will be in com
mand of the Atlantic feet only until
May Is, when he, too, hauls down
his fac for all time To return home
on waiting orders until his retire.
ment in the fall.
Rear Admiral Charles NJ. Sperry
will resume command with the de-
parture of Admiral Thomas.