The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-17
Or Board U. 5. S. Louisiana.
Punta Annas. enc. Jan. 5


tacle unprecedented, so far as any one
in this fleet can recall. in naval annals.
A squadron of the Argentine navy came
out hundreds of miles to greet our ships,
and probably for the first time IN the
history of navies national salutes were
fred upon the high seas. Squadrons and
fleets have passed one another before time
and time again. and honors have been
exchanged. the fiags Of flag officers have
been saluted, but after these courtesies
have been finished they have gone their
separate ways. all official proprieties hav-
ing been observed.
But this greeting was so unusual that
Admiral Evans set a new naval fashion.
and after his flag had been saluted-sev-
enteen guns, by the way; the number in
creases on the way round. and If the
war ships keep it up. each one giving
the rear admiral more and more guns
he will soon be an admiral of the feet
In the thundered judgment Of other ma
tons. no matter what action Congress
may take-he ordered the salute of TWEEN
ty-one guns for the Chileans. The Ar
gentine ships gave full justification. for
they had manned the rails on approach
ing our ships. an honor paid ordinarily
only 10 the head Of a nation
Honor To the Nation.
Admiral Evans met this unusual COM
pliment by choosing to regard it as an
honor 10 our nation, not a personal mat
ter. and he fired twenty-one guns, to
which the Argentine flag ship responded
at once. In addition to those h0nors the
crews Of the various ships cheered one
another as they passed. 1t was all dir
ferent from the accepted rule OF fleets
or squadrons in passing and it left a
fine feeling.
4 never saw sentiment carried so far
in all my naval experience" said one man
who will soon have the right 10 hoist
twO-starred rear admiraTs flag Per
haps it was unusual. but it was impress
sive: it was impressive
Our feet had no sooner reached Rio
than Admiral Evans was informed that
the Argentine ships would come out from
Buenos Ayres TO greet him on the way 20
Punta Arenas. The information was
cabled duly and our feet held itself in
readiness 10 do the proper and handsome
thing for the unusual occasion. Satur-
day. January ., was almost a wonder
days at sea. The air. which had been ac-
Cumulating a chill under cloudy skies
and an eastern wind. became balmy and
the sea was as smooth as a pond but
presently a weather breeder" appeared,
the wind rose and the sea ran high.
Wireless Request for Position.
II was just about 1 O'Clock when wire
less message was received from the Cul-
goa. saying that the Argentine ships were
asking him by wireless for our longitude
and latitude. The figures were sent back
promptly. Their figures were also given,
and some error was made in transmits
sion. II was figured that they We're
something like Ito miles to the south and
a little TO the west OF us. The weather
began to moderate and then the opinion
was that II they steered straight for us
we ought TO meet them about o'clock
that Sunday evening. But about 4
o'clock there came another message from
the Culgoa, saying they were about five
miles off and going southwest. the same
course as ours. 1t was a surprise
Admiral Evans also received by wireless
through the Culgoa this message Of greet
ing from Admiral Olivia in command OF
the Argentine ships:
January 8. 1908. ..
To Rear Admiral Evans:
The commander Of the San Martin division Of
the Argentine navy salutes Rear Admiral Evans
his officers. and men. and transmits 10 him the
position 0f the Argentine division ordered 70 meet
him by dead reckoning latitude IS degrees as
minutes south. longitude IS degrees a minutes
west HIPOLITO OLIVIA
To this greeting Admiral Evans sent
this response:
January D. 1908. 2;i3 p. m
To Rear Admiral Olivia
Rear Admiral Evans thanks the chief Of the
Argentine division for his courtesy and begs that
he viii transmit to the Argentine government his
thanks for sending naval division 10 meet the
United States feet. EVANS.
stood on Their MettIe.
Then came another surprise The Cul-
goa told us that the Argentine ships were
steaming at the cate of fourteen and
half knots. and Nat they were only hf-
teen knots away
Fourteen and a half knots. eh!" was
the open-eyed and arch-browed comment.
Wonder how long they can keep that
up Pretty smart that for j South Amer
lean squadroni"
The sun burst out from the clouds half
an hour before sunset and the navigators
got satisfactory observations. and II was
possible to send back our exact position.
The Argentinas had been cropping around
for us up TO that time. and the best they
could do was to find the Culgoa and the
Yanhton. The long twilight Of the high
latitude in midsummer followed, but lust
after o'clock the Connecticut sent a sig
nal 10 the feet and Immediately shot its
after searchlight high in the heavens X
caught the clouds miles and miles back.
a brilliant beam. Then came another sig
nal 10 the feet. and instantly the after
searchlights of all sixteen ships were
combined In monstrOus shaft OF light
that cleft a path cleaning with the bril-
lance of q comets tail through the low.
ering clouds It vibrated and pulsated
with the glow of an aurora borealis and
every culver and dart seemed TO sag to
the Argentinas:
"Here We Are; Come AIOngw
Here we are Here we are, Follow
this and you'll find us. Were only going
ten knots an hour. You'll soon catch UP.
Hurry along; we'll be glad 10 see your'
For twenty minutes that extract of the
sun bored into clouds behind, showing
the way. it was veritable pillar OF fire
by night Shortly before O'Clock,
well astern. the faint light of a ship
could be made cut with the naked eye.
The quartermaster on the bridge said
there were four lights Word was sent
10 the captain-the usual rule when any
vessel is sighted-and the news spread |
about. and soon dozens of men were
straining their eyes to see the four lights |
When daylight came on Monday. Janu-
airy q. one of the fairest DAYS nature /
ever provided, with a crisp southwest
breeze, corresponding to the northwest
breeze with us. every breath of It a tonic. |
the Argentine ships were about three |
miles aSferu of rS ChorfIx, 49,. .