Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-10
EVANS Off
FOR HOME
ADMIRAL RESIGNS COMMAND;
GOES EAST
THOMAS BLUE FLAG FLOATS
FROM CONNECTICUT
In Farewell Message to Officers and
Men, "FIghtlng Bob" Expresses
Hope for Greater
Navy

BY Associated Press
OAKLAND. May 9.-Rear Admiral Evans
was given an enthusiastic greeting by
crowd who gathered at the Southern Pacific
ferry depot Just before he entered his pri-
yate car attached to the overland train.
when asked for a statement he said,
"rhere Is nothing to be said. excepting that
out there" and he pointed to the feet, "lles
my first and last flagship, the YORKTOWN
and Connecticut"
The admiral was almost in tears as his
boat dropped into the ferry slip.
BY Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9.-Rear Ad-
fnirai Robiey d. Evans flag today was
hauled down from the main truck or
the Connecticut in San Francisco har-
Dor amid salute of thirteen guns, and
tonight the first commander In cniet OF
Americas first battleship fleet Is ON his
way to his home in Washington to re-
main on waiting orders until the date
of his retirement for age on his sixty
second birthday, August Is next.
Accompanied by members or MS
family and staff, Admiral Evans left at
500 p. m. No advance announcement
of the hour of departure had been MADE
In order that crowds at the ferry ter
minal and Oakland railway station
might be avoided.
AS the blue ensign of the retiring
commander fluttered down to the after
bridge of the Connecticut new nag OF
similar design was broken out In token
of the presence of a new chief, Rear
Admiral Charles NJ. Thomas, who
brought the ships from Magdalena bay
to Santa Cruz and who acted for Ad-
miral Evans at all the South American
and Southern California social func-
tions of the cruise, taking over control
of the big. fleet in his own right.
The bunting of the new commander
was saluted by thirteen guns fired from
every ship in the fleet the waters OF
the bay and the green surrounding
hills echoing the signal shots. on board
each of the sixteen battleships the SIX
torpedo boat destroyers and the aux
fliaries of the Atlantic fleet an address
from the departing commander IN chief
was read.
Evans Stays on Shore
Admiral Evans was not permitted by
his physician to go aboard the Connec-
ticut during the ceremonies attending
his REIMBURSEMENT of an active naval
service. He expressed great regret In
leaving the ships and his thanks for
the loyal support of the men and officers
during his long tour of command The
address In full was as follows:
United States Atlantic fleet, U. ).
S. Connecticut. flagship. San Fran
cisco. Cal, May 8, 1908. Fleet gen.
eral order No. 8.
Upon relinquishing command of
the United States Atlantic fleet and
hauling down my flag this day
aboard the u. S. S. Connecticut
flagship, I desire to express to the
officers and men of the fleet my
great regret at leaving them and
my appreciation of and hearty
thanks for their continuous and
loyal support. 1t has been source
of much qualification and pride to
me throughout my period of COM
mand not only to see the number
of vessels in the fleet steadily in
crease and the units become more
and more formidable, but to see the
steady Improvement in drill, shoot
ing and In everything that tends to
efficiency, and especially to witness
the growth of that feeling of COM
radeship and esprit which trans
forms a group of vessels into an
efficient war fleet. I am sure that
both officers and men feel this same
pride in the great increase of ef-
ficiency in these matters, and as it
has been accomplished through
their loyalty and zeal to them 1 ex-
tend my thanks for all that they
have done.
In taking leave of them I wish
to say to each and every one that
they have my warmest sympathy
and best wishes for continued
prosperity and good fortune in the
future | shall always watch their
movements with pride and interest
and | trust they will extend to my
successors the same loyal and
hearty support that they have al
ways given to me in order that
l may be able to see from my home
the fleet which / am now leaving
progress steadily In efficiency, so
that 1t may justify the faith Of our
people that our war fleet is and
always will be a perfect source of
strength for upholding the safety
and honor of our flag and a Sc
curity for such as pass on the
sea- upon their lawful occasions
'T desire that this order may be
read as soon as possible at spe-
cial muster aboard every shin In
the fleet as a farewell greeting
from departing commander in
chief in whose heart the officers
and men will ever find the warm
est sympathy.
sRear Admiral U. 8. Navy. Com
mander in Chief United States
Atlantic Fleet"
Little Ceremony
The salutes were the only manifesta-
tions of pomp or ceremony attending
Admiral Thomas assumption of COM
mand. 1t was his desire that re-
quirements of the occasion should be
as simple as possible. Not long after
his flag was flying he had returned to
the shore to participate In the welcome
which Oakland--across the bay-de-
sired to extend to the fleet.
After late night ashore attending
the city banquet at the St Francis and
the Greenway ball at the Fairmont
hotel. senior and junior officers alike
were turned out early this morning to
march In a brigade parade OF blue
Jackets and marines from the combined
fleets through the streets of Oakland
Continued Page six)