The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-04
TELLS Of.
FLEETS CRUISE Of /
$4,000 MILES
FIGHTING BOB" EVANS PROVES
HIMSELF ALMOST AS GOOD A
TALkER AS A sAILoR-MANY
HAZARDS ON LONG TRIP.

Two thousand people cheered Rear
Admiral Robley ID. Evans when he
came into the Light Guard armory.
Wednesday night; they applanded him
often and finally gave him an ovation
at the close Of his story OF the cruise
OF the American battleship fleet. Few
who were there but realized that they
had had a wonderful frst-hand recital
OF an event that will go down In Amer
lean history as absolutely unique.
Admiral Evans spoke from chair.
begging indulgence since his old
wounds make standing uncomfortable.
He proved himself almost as good a
talker as sailor. Beginning with the
assembling Of the 16 battleships and
sm aller vessels at Hampton Roads, he
described the long siege OF drilling
needed to make IL possible to handle
SO large a fleet without collisions. Then
had come the target practice. and
finally the presidents farewell visit.
This is q peaceful cruise, but IL 1t
should turn out otherwise. you would
know your responsibility In the mat
ter" was the presidents farewell.
Admiral Evans described the detail
OF the preparations and the great
quantity of provisions needed. The
fleet had left Norfolk on Dec. l6 ana
had Christmas In Trinidad. Then
came the news that attempts would
made to blow up the American fleet
in Rio de Janiero harbor and 80 Ad-
miral Evans sent In his smaller ships
first. He stopped next at the Argen-
tine republic to let the people OF that
country know what an immense Meet
the United States had.
THAT great secretary OF state. Elihu
Root. went TO South America and told
them q few things about the Monroe
doctrine and our willingness and pow
er to enforce It." said Admiral Evans.
Il think they took it with grain OF
salt. However. after they saw our
feet, they knew we were able to de-
liver the goods"
The Straits of Magellan were the
hardest spot on the trip. the admiral
said, and, though man In an office
with q swivel chair could point out in
minute how to get through. II was
different matter 10 take the big fleet
through the hundreds Of miles OF rock
studded waters In fog as thick as soup.
In Chile. the people turned out To
greet the Americans effusively and
the Chilean sailors formed great
human welcome sign on hillside at
Valparaiso. In Peru, the sailors were
shown bull-fght, but they did not
stay TO see the finish OF 1t.
Then came the long straight course
up to Los Angeles. with stop for tar
get practice, and at the California
town the people gave the sailors the
greatest reception ever given the men
of a feet. Fog settled down again be-
fore the feet reached San Francisco
but Admiral Evans insisted on going
In anyway and delivered his charge
up after taking the 16 great warships
$4,000 miles and arriving one minute
ahead of time.
1T was In San Francisco that my
flag came down for the last time"
said Admiral Evans with feeling. I'D
been about as years getting 1t up.
But it's right-to Quit-when your
time comes"
The naval reserves acted as an
escort to the armory. William c. May
bury made the Introductory remarks,
Gov. Warner rendered the greetings of
the state. and Mayor Breitmeyer also
made a brief address