The San Francisco call., 1908-05-09
CHILDREN TO THRONG
BATTLESH|PS TODAY
Freedom of the Fleet Will Be
Given to Them and Every
Part Explained


This will surely. be great day for
the youngsters. AI the school chill
dren from the little fellows in the first
grades and the wee girls with hair
hanging down their backs in braids to
the great big boys of the graduating
classes who wear white collars and
long trousers, and the large girls in
long dresses viii have all to theP-
selves one long 10 he rememberbd,
glorious. soul satisfying. surprising,
stupendous day aboard the warshipss
It's children's day on the vessels of
the feet.
From 10 o'clock this morning until 4
o'clock in the afternoon every young
ster VIII be just as welcome as day
light And for once in the history of
the navy all those bothersome regula-
tions will simply be tossed overheard
art once and the decks OF the battle
ships. and the cruisers. and the cute
little torpedo boats, from stem TO stern,
from fighting top down TO the dark,
deep hold. from the admirars con-
ming tower and back again to the black
cooks galley will be just as free as
daylight to the kids.
Isn't that a pretty fine prospects,
Why. the little fellows will even he
allowed TO inspect the big guns and
peek through the cannons If they want
20, just as much as they please. AS
for the mascots. the goats, the dogs. the
cats, the monkeys. and all those they
are simply aching to be petted and
they will certainly appreciate all the
fondling the children give EN-. You
can't rub a goats back too hard to
suit him. not even with stick.
The children will be there all right
They've been planning for this event
for--oh. it's been at least. seven years.
no, perhaps not that long either, but
ever since the school board said they
would grant a whole holiday without
any conditions to every boy and girl
who wanted TO see the fleet-of course
that includes everybody. Any boy that
would rather go to a baseball game
than a battleship on day like this
is surely to be pitied to the bottom of
his boots
The little girls will wear their best
clothes. pressed out nicely by their
mothers or the laundress. and the boys,
those who have EN-, will wear their
sailor suits. It's estimated that at
least 10000 school children will go
aboard the ships.
Down on East street, at most all the
wharves. they have big floats and
barges arranged so as to take scores
OF children TO the ships at a time.
Every youngster under years. so the
rule has been made, must have guard
ian with him. Those older than that
can go alone If they want to. Infants in
arms and children under years of age
viii not be permitted aboard. because
they might get frightened at the big
guns and cry, which no boy likes to
see.
The feet officers like to see Just as
many visitors come aboard the war
ships as possible. but today-though
there's no positive rule-in order that
the children may have the whole thing
as much to themselves just for the
one time as possible the .grownups are
expected TO exercise judgment and not
go aboard unless they are escorting
some OF the children.
When the barges and launches touch
at the gangways of the various battle
ships. big sailors in blue will be on
hand 10 help them out The boys nat
urally won't need very much help. but
the little girls viii be lifted out gently
and helped up the queer ladder things
that they have on board ships. Once on
deck. everything in sight will be open
for the children.
They can go down in the turrets and
Inspect the II inch cannon, which the
gunners VIII be very glad to have them
do. Just one thing, however, the chill
dren mustn't touch the levers for there's
no telling what might happen If they
did. But they can look through the
telescopes. walk into the admirars
cabin and say how do you do and walk
out again, watch the flremen at the
furnaces, and cry "Whee-e-e" when the
flag goes up, Just as we all would like
TO do only we are so grown up and dig
Rified and sober.
Yes, II surely will be a great day.
San Francisco school children are not
the only ones who can visit the ships,
for out OF town children and their par
ents Will be just as welcome. A chill
dren's day like this comes only once in
a lifetime