New-York tribune., 1908-04-18
FLEET SAILS TO-DAY
HILL Divide ON EASTER.
,4dmfral Thomas Issues Nesc OrdeT'
4fter Washington Telegram.

ssr Diego. CAL April I7.-With sailing orders
.x,o5 Tor & O'Clock tomorrow morning, the stay
or -hs American battleship feet in San Diego
.,aas tonight so far as activity is concerheu-
plans are already under way for the erecton ol
commemorative monument in the city Pai n
where the official welcome TO the state "ss -
tended on Wednesday last 10 the sixteen shlps-
hall TO the Junior officers of the feet to-nlsIl
81. The Hotel Del Coronado proved 10 be 1fie io''
spectacular Of the entertainments that '0
marked the four days of the fleets presence III
ss, Diero waters. The decorations were eia0o-
rate TO extreme
E7ou,s,s ,r,e-. banked about the alcoves and
balconies and the air was heavy with perfume
California peoples had large place IN the ue0'
-srive scheme and there was also "eai'h u
roses vioIets carnations and the myriad OF o'oS
SONS that are perennial under the "arHi'i %
the serni-tropicsI sun Sixteen elec'fic s'1iS
represented the sixteen ships. and neheath cal
zas suspended a lifebuoy, fashioned OF "ii'0
flower. and bearing the name OF one OF me Nss
sels Of war Flags and bunting formed a can
ory ove- the room. and red. white and blue el-
<~ots in electric lighting completed the setting
The officers who attended the ball were ai'Ieo
IN fuIl dress uniform. The two columns or Ihe
s-snd march were led by Miss Juha e1Iaii''
daughter Of L s Grant, IT. and Miss jessie
Neurheck both Of San Diego The former h"u
q. PARTNER Midshipman Alexander sharp j. VI
the flagship Connecticut and the latter Eiisieh II
Lew N Atkins also attached TO the CohTec'i-
cut. The floor scene during the march and the
long programme Of dancing which foio"eo iau
all the gay aspects that usually accolhFai'S A'''
tar and naval functions
Another large marty Of liberty men came
ashore from the feet this morning, and 'he
osv was practically given over 10 their enter
fainuncnt There were free matinees at al eA-
cent one Of the theatres this afternoon me
only card OF admission being the uniform OF the
enlisted man. The bluejackets packed most oi
the amusement places. During the morning
they roarned about the streets enjoying the111-
sslves n the fullest extent Shooting galleries
we're & favorite stopping place, and more target
records were broken Restaurants Of the Detter
class we're taronged al the luncheon hour Sailor
men Of the modern navy enjoy excellent fare on
board ship and seek equally good food ashore
Every sailor on the street wore a souvenir OF
some sort usually buttons with streamers OF
red white and blue commemorative of the visit
Of the feet.
AZ midnight 4 farewell salute Of thirteen
aerial bombs, fired from Point Iona was fol-
lowed by the fight Of thirteen giant rockets and
red fire illuminations.
Admiral Thomas. commanding the feet. to-
dav visited the monument erected by the enlisted
men and officers Of the Pacific squadron il mem
orv Of the dead Of the gunboat Bennington at
Iona and placed immense floral tribute at
the foot OF the monument. AfterWard the naval
officers visited Fort Rosecrans 10 pay a farewell
call They were dressed in special full dress uni
form.
Under orders from the Secretary Of the Navy,
telesraphed to-day from Washington. Admiral
Thomas issued amended orders late this after
noon for the arrival Of the feet at the ports
-z--s-- ---rnT nT.aE an
q church organization in that city against q
movement of the ships on Easter afternoon.
orders we're issued to the feet that the sixteen
sbirts should divide into four divisions before
reaching san Pedro al . O'Clock Saturday after
noon and go Immediately 10 the ports assigned
10 them.
These orders were changed to-day direc-
tions from Washington 10 provide that the en-
tire feet shall stay overnight at San Pedro and
that the distribution Of the ships 10 Long Beach,
Santa Monica and Redondo be made at O'Clock
Sunday morning.
Admiral Thomas expressed some surprise to
CAV at the statements in certain newspapers
that he had been expected 10 command the feet
on the trip TO Puget Sound The admiral de-
clared that he had applied some time ago TO
be relieved Of command not later than May .,
but this application was made before May Is
had been fixed as the date of departure from
san Francisco for the north When this date
was announced Admiral Thomas telegraphed the
department from Magdalena Bay TO be relieved
on May 10 TO make Nay for Admiral Sperry,
who is 70 command the feet on its "Trip around
the world. He did this that Admiral SpeTry
might become acquainted with the feet duties
and have all the details in hand prior TO the
start for Honolulu July d
Paso Robles. Cal. april It'll soon be on
the quarterback again" said Admiral Evans 70
Dr. L Z Phillips, as he came from the baths
to-day. The admiral was feeling unusually well
and looking much better than at any time since
his arrival al the Hot Springs IN the afternoon
he spent an hour on the lawn watching various
games in Z joViaI mood
Admiral Evans to-day confirmed the report
that Rear Admiral Thomas would give I'D his
command soon after the arrival Of the feet in
san Francisco and explained that il would en-
able Rear Admiral Sperry to get his hand in
before he started with the feet on its world
voyage
Admiral Evans paid glowing tribute % Resr r
Admiral Thomas for his faithfulness and loyalty
10 him during the long cruise from Hampton
Boads.