The Dickinson press., 1909-07-03

NAS 10 SAAS AAoA
Dor on our line toward the point OF
triangle, as the phantoms sailed along
the opposite line for the same point,
until we counted twenty-six phantOms
growing gradually more distinct until
so many battleships were in view. and,
as the Mayflower bearing the President
came out of the harbor to meet them, the
Presidents salute was fired by each
ship in turn and we could judge how
easily they could shoot and how busy
our boat might be kept if the guns.
which blazed toward US. were loaded.
But our German captain was flying the
stars and stripes for the occasion and
we felt safe.
We sailed into the harbor, viewing
excursion. boats loaded with sightseers,
Fortress Monroe, and multitudes of
people on the docks and shore line until
VI finally anchored in the midst of a
most animated scene. The battle ships
came on and sailed around our bow
until sixteen of the twenty-six had
passed around and thence to position
and anchored. I was wondering if the
maneuvering powers figured that the
Kaiser OF Teddy was on our boat. We
could see the rev and guns and even
read the names of the battleships as they
passed. and it was most exhileratin9.
But just then a busy torpedo boat
destroyer came up and megaphoned at
us and it was discovered that our pilot
had made q mistake in the exact loca-
tion for anchorage, so we pulled outside
the magic circle and saw the balance of
the feet 60 by at some greater distance.
The precision of movement. the uni
$OrpnSt1, NJ ASotornn ord ouaFufhSnd
else about the fleet indicated efficiency
and masterful intelligence. Admiral
Bob Evans. in his lecture. tells about
this fleet when ready to sail the year
before when the entire fleet was practi-
from the farms and homesteads of the
were drilled and worked so efficiently
established a new record for the world
Evans also tells of his visiting South
not knowing just what to do, but when
taries visited him he knew that a
let 60 the 100 guns. Previously Secretary
NOOl lldu NlSllCu l1lC OOulll f1lllCk lNdll
countries, and. when he suggested that
the American navy could be depended
IN to preserve order, many were in
Admiral Bob's n hundred guns had
a different feeling prevailed. Castro
today is a man without a country. The
American navy is not ridiculed any
~oo,o h1v ;~<a11sdnrt roor1o Ut hn~o op
abroad.
Another story is told of Evans when.
prior to his departure with the fleet, he
visited the president at Washington and
was admonished by Roosevelt that he
was going on a mission of peace and
not wal and the gallant Bob saluted
with the remark, AYE, aye, Sir peace
or wal it is all the same to me, sir"
When at Hampton roads the officers
of the Oceana sent a wireless message
of greeting to President Roosevelt in
the name of the passengers and officers
of the ship. This message received a
reply from the President addressed to
Oceana. One of the German officers was
very much pleased when telling of it
later and the crew naturally more than
appreciated OeliAe IecoeLA"eu ny lle
President.
In the early afternoon we sailed away
again for New York, arriving there the
forenoon of February 23rd just before a
heavy fog settled over the harbor. As
we pulled into dock at New York and
l scanned the people there ready to
greet boat and passengers. not a colored
face was in sight. and. after thirty days
of tanned humanity, when on shore,
thanked God the white race was being
preserved.
r J. E. PHELAN.