Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-20
DROP ANCHORAT
SANTA MONICA
NEW MAINE LEADS HARBER'S
DIVISION
FOUR WARsHIPs SPREAD FROM
VENICE NoRTHWARD
After Hundred Women Pin Flowers
on Sailors, Thousands Visit the
Maine, Ohio, Missouri and
Minnesota

SOHlSu uiNlSlon 4 OF the DaLtleSHlp 1leel
Sunday morning, the sun smiling q
California welcome on the floating
fortresses and the Santa Monica bay
pcpulace backing up the sunny well
come with more substantial one.
The four splendid battleships, Maine
(hagship), Ohio, Missouri and Mime
sofa steamed majestically into the
broad expanse of water at $3.50, con-
tlnued to the northern end, then turned
round and distributed itself between
Pier avenue, Santa Monica, and the
breakwater at Venice.
Captain G. b. Harber, In command
of the Maine, commands the division
this being the quartet of battlers OF
which Admiral Thomas had command
before Admiral Evans became inva-
lded. When Thomas was in charge
there the Minnesota was the flagship.
Santa Monica bay, noted for its
marine panorama, never bore a more
formidable, ponderous or historic quar-
tet of warships than yesterday, and
her people, augmented by Los Angeles
Visitors, did all that human endeavor
could to let the crews know that they
realize that ''our division had come"
Their First Glimpse
Thousands Of those on shore doubt
less helped to swell the throng be-
tween San Pedro and Newport bay to
note the entry of the squadrons Sat
urday, but many thousands more
caught their first glimpse of the At
lantic fleet yesterday and to all IT was
a memorable occasion.
After the entry into the bay the
women of the cities adjacent boarded
the warshps and distributed boutton-
ieres for every man aboard. Each one
surrendered instantly and submitted to
having the flowers pinned to his coat
or blouse.
This pretty ceremony, performed by
100 young women--twenty-five for each
battleship-served as the formal well
come, though mayors of Ocean Bark
and Santa Monica and staffs shook
hands with the officers and spoke cor
dial words of greeting.
Easter Sunday opened perfect day.
The sun shone its most balmy way,
the hillsides and the beach contrasted
in perfect harmony. light wind blew
yet did not ruffie the sea, and as soon
as the electric car service began the
beach and piers began filling up with
happy humanity with outstretched
hands for the boys in blue.
Hour after hour the throngs swelled,
for the early visitors came particularly
to see the incoming of the division.
On Easter Morn
A few minutes after o'clock the
flagship Maine, whose coming called
up memories of its Inflated predecessor,
hove into sight, and stately, terrible
and silent, led the way to the ocean 8
expanse. The moment the head of the
line appeared automobile horns sound
ed people cheered, handkerchiefs
waved and all the boats equipped with
noise makers were heard. There are
no factory whistles near the shore
line.
With the perfect alignment and dis
position as to space that has all along
marked the progress of the great fleet
the white and dun colored ships OF
peace proceeded northward as though
heading for the long wharf at Port
Los Angeles. Then the signal nags
began to flap and change and the flag
ship slowly described an arc and turned
back to the south. The division had
held its dress parade and was pro-
ceeding to It's anchorages.
AT slower speed the turn was made,
the flagship increasing its distance and
the last ship, the Minnesota, appar-
emily slowing down. The maneuver
then became apparent. The captains
were spreading their proud ships over
an aera extending from Venice to
Santa Monica.
Anchors Splash simultaneously.
For an instant it seemed the big
battlers halted, then there came a
splash and simultaneously four great
forward anchors slipped to the oceans
tottom with a splash that sent up
miniature waterspouts.
For a little while only they lay
broadside to the beach. Then by tidal
action the craft swung around on their
chains and directly their sterns point
ed to shore. In this position they re-
manned.
The first anchorage was in a line
about a mile from shore. This seemed
to the committee a bit too far, as 1t
reduced the carrying capacity Of the
launches by lengthening the running
time. Only nine out of the forty boats
had reported for duty and short hauls
were imperative.
Captain Harber, therefore. at 10
o'clock ordered the anchors weighed
and changed the divisional position,
moving. 200 yards nearer shore.
This move was welcome, but it con-
sumed an hour and a half and re-
duced the number of persons who were
able to visit the four battleships in
proportion.
The first boats which left the bat
tleship fleet for shore had orders to
convey the hundred committee women
who bore Easter flowers for the sailors.
They had the right of way. 1t was
Southern California's Easter greeting
to the men of the fourth division
At Femlninlty's Feet
The young women were garbed in
their gayest clothes and Easter hats,
their eyes and smiles were brightest
and patriotism had no prettier expon-
ents than the Santa Monica bay COM
mittee bearing garlands and blooms for
the boys in blue.
They were received with due dig
nifty, twenty-five to each warship, and
then given the freedom of the decks,
the men being drawn up in line for the
floral ceremonies. smile and kind
word went with each couttoniere as it
was pinned on each --lanly breast,
forthwith putting the wearer meta
phorically at the feet of the fair ones.
Then in groups the officers invited
the visitors to inspect the ships and
femininity did so from the fighting
tops to the engine rooms. The escort
ing officers aver that they never had
better listeners, more intelligent audi
ences or more enthusiastic girls than
the fair one hundred.
When the last of the fair ones
stepped down to the landing stages
tne order was given to change anchor
age and in few minutes huge volumes
of smoke shot out of the tunnels. Di-
rectly the anchors were lifted and the
division moved closer to hospitable
shores. 1t is said today the four ships
may move still nearer the pier.
Rush in Launch Trade