The Globe-republican., 1908-05-14
EVANS STEPS OUT
RETIRED FROM COMMAND OF
FLEET AND WILL RETURN
TO WASHINGTON.
WAS REVIEWED BY METCAlF
Secretary Of the Navy Officially In
spected the a. Ships At Anchor
in San Francisco
Harbor.

san francisco, May J.-lHe GULF
bined Atlantic and Pacific fleets of bat.
tleships, armored cruisers, torpedo
boat destroyers and auxiliaries, aggre'
eating in weight Of displacement the
enormous total of more than four hun.
dred thousand tons-the greatest as
semblage of armor clads thus far to
mark the progress of the American
navy to second rank among the float
ing fighting forces of the world--were
reviewed in picturesque San francisco
harbor Friday by Secretary OF the
Navy Metcalf. The A vessels of the
two fleets lay at anchor 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 south
ward through the two lines formed by
the armored cruisers of the Pacific
fleet, nearest the Oakland shore, and
the second squadron of the Atlantic
fleet, headed by the Minnesota. Turn
ing back to the north at the end OF
these two lines, the Yorktown ira
versed the lane formed on the star
board by the battleships Of the At
lantic squadron, and on the port by the
grim little destroyers. The day was
brilliant with sunshine and signing
breeze from the west set the waters
of the hill protected bay dancing into
white-capped waves. The heavy bat
tleships and cruisers, gay with the
futtering signal flags of full dress,
paid no heed to the whistling wind,
but the destroyers rolled and swayed
in the trough of the seas. 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 water pageant within
three days. The review, however, was
the last of the show features on the
water, for soon the ships will be de-
parting, some to go to the navy yards
for repairs and others of the Pacific
fleet starting south on practice cruise.
Rear admiral Robley D. Evans who
hoI fn
career by participating in Fridays Of
fetal ceremonies, was not permitted
by his attending physician to go
aboard the Connecticut Rear Admiral
Charles NJ. Thomas was again the
Senior officer" Admiral Evans, who
returned to the fleet at Santa Cruz
the day before it sailed through the
Golden Gate in completion of the ORR
ginally planned cruise, has made his
home on shore at the st. Francis
hotel, since the afternoon of the ar
rival. He rode in the long parade on
Thursday and was quite fatigued by
the trip. Saturday forenoon is the
time set for Admiral Evans finally to
ralinquish command. Although he will
not be aboard ship, his flag will Of
ficially be lowered from the truck of
the Connecticut as the sharp-speaking
rifles on the after bridge boom out
their parting salute of Is guns will
mark the assumption of command by
a new chief, Admiral Thomas trans
ferring his headquarters from the Min
nesotA to the Connecticut and ex-
changing the subordinate flag Of red
of the commanding pennant of blue
Admiral Evans leave taking of the
fleet thus will date from the journey
through the Golden Gate, when clad
in the doublebreasted 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 per-
sonal staff, Admiral Evans will leave
Saturday m0rGlng for his home in
Washington, where he will remain
awaiting orders until the date of re.
tirement IN his siXty-second birthday,
August IS. Admiral Thomas will be il:
command of the Atlantic feet only
until May Is, when he, too hauls down
his flag for all time, to return home
on awaiting orders until his retire.
ment in the fall. Rear Admiral
Charles M. Sperry will resume com.
mand with the departure of Admiral
| Thomas.
Admiral Evans babe a personal fare
well to the officers of his command
at the banquet in honor of the visit
of the Atlantic fleet by the city oil
San Francisco. He was wheeled into
the room and in characteristic Il
minutes address, declared that what
is needed to preserve the peace Of the
world is more battleships and fewer
| statesmen. AS to armor belts, the ad
| miral declared it made no difference
whether they were at the water line
or whether they were made OF leather
wood or egg shells. 1t is the mer
who can shoot the straightest ant
stand punishment the longest who VIII
pattles," he declared, "and it is o
such stuff that the American navy Il
made"