The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-16

l or the Watered surface Of the globe.
 Sperry's Task
 To Rear Admiral Charles s. Sperry, a strict disciplinarian. man of few words, i but a recognized scholar and constant student of the higher arts of naval science. fell the task of directing the fleet on all but the first l4,000 miles of it's journey. Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. now retired, took the fleet out of Hampton Roads on December 16 1907, and although illness soon after the start con fined him to his cabin for a greater part of the way he retained command until San Francisco was reached and the first stage of the long trip had been accom- plished. Rear. Admiral Evans found 1t ! necessary while the ships were at the targets in Magdalena Bay to leave the fleet and seek treatment al Paso Bobles, Hot Springs, Cal. His flag lieutenant went with him and he retained his rank of commander in chief. When the ships reached Monterey Bay, the last stopping place on the Pacific coast prior to the entry into San Francisco harbor, Admiral Evans was helped aboard his old flagship and was on the after bridge when the Connecticut entered the Golden Gate at the head of the most formidable array of fighting vessels ever gathered under one flag The Atlantic and Pacific flee s joined company in the bay and there were more than 40 ships in the four long columns thaeDeame to anchor under Evans blue ensign. Three days later Admiral Evans hauled down his flag for all time. He was succeeded as com mander in chief by Rear Admiral Charles H. Thomas, who sailed from Hampton Roads in command of the second squad ron. Because of Admiral Evans illness the burden of the diplomatic calls, the speeches and the entertaining of the trip around South America and up the Cali fornia coast fell upon Admiral Thomas. Coupled with his duties as second in com mand. with the commander in chief ill, the social burden was not light one. Admiral Thomas was plainly failing in health when he succeeded Admiral Evans and he retained official command only from May to 15. 1908. being relieved al that time ahead of the departments plans, in .order that he might enjoy a rest. As the fleet was sailing from San Francisco, two months later, Admiral Thomas died suddenly at Del Monte, Cal.
 Two Captains Dead.
 Death has twice invaded the ranks of the captains who sailed with the feet but in both instances the officers had previously been relieved from duty Capt Henry McCrea of the. Georgia, most popular officer. died soon after his return to the east following relia- quishment of command at San Fran cisco. Capt. Greenleaf A. Merriam, who took the Missouri to the Pacific coast, a capable man, also died within com paratively short time after turning his vessel over to a successor
 Rear Admiral Sperry who returns as commander-in-c chief. sailed as com mander of the fourth division of the fleet, being ranked by both Admirals Evans and Thomas. Rear Admiral Will liam H. Emory. was the fourth of the sailing admirals, and he was retired while the ships were at Manila. Cap tains Seaton Schroeder of the Virginia, Richard Wainwright of the Louisiana and William L. Potter of the Vermont were the captains who attained flag rank during the cruise.
 Start of the Voyage.
 Leaving Hampton Roads on a cloud less day in December, 1907, after a re- view by the President from the bridge of the Mayflower, the first run of the fleet took 1t to Trinidad. It had been announced that the practice cruise would end on the west coast of the United States but hardly had the ships got under way than the fact became known that it was really MT. Roose- velt's intention to have the Is battle ships circumnavigate the globe At Trinidad the first of the gayeties oc- cured. The officers and men of the fleet were welcomed with a hospitality which set a mark for all succeeding receptions and from that time on each succeeding port tried to outdo its pre- deeessor. The climax of lavish dis plays, of parties and receptions, un- doubtedly came in Australia and Japan, o1t c-1 Uonld Q difficult for the officers and men today to say just where it was the people tried hardest to make their stay pleasant one. Among the men, Los Angeles will al ways be a bright memory, for 1t was there that they first came into their own on the trip and all entertain ments were arranged in particular for the\ \enlisteds force. It was in Los An geles also that Jim" Jeffries, champion of the world refereed the sailors box ing bouts and mingled with them in all their sports.
 Visit at Rio de Janeiro.
 From Trinidad the fleet called next at Rio where the days of the visit were overcrowded with social events. At Rio an unfounded rumor told of plot by anarchists to blow up some of the American vessels. The first thrill of
  ly dispelled when the story was shown to be a pure fabrication. From Rio the itinerary led to Punta Arenas, that unique and interesting "farthest south settlement on the Straits of Magellan. Here again hospitable people made the stay of the fleet an exceedingly pleasant one The Chilean government sent a cruiser to accompany the 16 battleships through the treacherous waters of the straits and although the navigators of the American vessels had already plotted their own course through the narrow rock walled water way. the courtesy of the South Ameri- can nation was fully appreciated.
 Passing the Straits.
 When the ships had safely left the straits, the department officials at Washington undoubtedly breathed a sigh of gratified relief, although on the 16 big ironclads themselves there was never a question in the mind of any officer or enlisted man as to the safe ty of the sturdy fighting craft. Sail ing up the western coast of South America the fleet passed in review of the president of Chile in the harbor Of Valparaiso, sweeping in a great curve into the harbor and out again before the admiring eyes of a deeply 1m- pressed people. No stops were made between Punta Arenas and Callao, where again the entertainments offered the visitors taxed every days time to the utmost. After Callao came Mazda = lena Bay, where for a month the ships were out of touch with the world ex- cept by wireless telegraphy. Drills and record target practice filled the time at Magdalena. It was month or real work-a month of work enjoyed by all. Record target practice is eagerly antic-