The San Francisco call., 1908-04-20
BIG BATTlESHIPS
ARE SEPARATED
Divisions Proceed FROM San
Pedro to Santa Monica
and RedondO

Los ANGELES. April 19.--Tonight.
for the first time since leaving Hampton
roads, the battleships of the Atlantic
fleet are separated. In home harbors
a few miles apart, they lie at anchor in
divisions of four. and these positions
they will maintain until next Saturday
morning, when the 1e fighting craft.
Thomas, will get under way for Santa
Barbara, the next port of welcome,
For the ships, for --.e officers and
men and for the people of LOS Angeles
this has been a busy Laster Sunday.
The division of the fleet was accom-
plished at o'clock this morning, but
even at this early hour the shores of
San Pedro harbor and the -..iis over
looking were well covered with spec
tators eager to witness the maneuvers
of the warships. While the crowds
ashore watched suddenly the signals
began to fly. and within a few minutes
the second division, led by its flagship,
the Georgia, steamed slowly out of line
and proceeded three miles across lie
harbor to point opposite Long Beach.
The third and fourth divisions rounded
Point Firmin for a longer cruise, the
four ships led by the flagship Maine
sheltered portion of Santa Monica bay,
and the fourth division, with the ala
bama leading, dropping out of the col
umn to anchor a few hundred yards off
the pier at Redondo.
MANY VIEW BATTLESHIPS
At an early hour the steam and cleo
trio roads were Transporting thousands
Of visitors to all four ports and as the
day advanced the overcrowded beach
cities sent their surplus thousands OF
people along the stretches of sandy
beach out along the docks and piers
and UP along the hills that command
the best view of the vessels at anchor.
Not until this afternoon were visit
ors received on board, and after that
time the people surged about the boat
landings, and the bays were dotted
with tiny craft, laden to the limit of
safety with men, women and children,
who struggled to be first aboard the
big, white, clean fighting machines.
A striking feature Of the service In
each of the big churches of Los An
geles was the presence of squads of
sailors in uniform, who were without
exception given places in front pews,
and to whom in nearly every instance
the clergymen addressed a portion of
the Easter sermon. The church
squads" composed OF first class liberty
men. were brought ashore early this
morning, and after attending devotions
we're given until tomorrow morning to
see the city. Armed patrols were land
ed at the beach cities and sent into Los
Angeles, but up to late hour there
had not been a single instance OF dis
order.
Los ANGELES WELCOME
Throughout the next five days, and
while officers and men of the fleet are
participating in the round of banquets,
balls and other forms OF entertainment.
devised by various committees, the peo-
pie of all southern California will be
welcomed aboard the battleships and
each night there will be a repetition of
last nights splendid illumination.
Judging by today's record it is safe TO
say that quarter of million of
people will make the effort to inspect
the big guns at close range and learn
how Jack lives aboard ship.
The formal welcome to the officers
will be rendered by the city of Los
Angeles tomorrow night in a banquet
at the Hotel Alexandria, to which $50
invitations have been issued The
affair will be one of the most notable
in the history of the city, and the dec
orations, which have been days in
preparation, are said to be unsurpassed
at any function that has taken place
in California In late years. General
Adna R. Chaffee. U. S. A, retired, will
be chairman. and Joseph Scott, presi-
dent of the board of education will be
toastmaster, and speeches will be made
by Mayor A. C. Harper, Rev. Robert J.
Burdette, Bishop Thomas j. Conaty.
Captain Amos r. Fries and H w.
O'Melyeny.
TyUANC CEEC