Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-15

both as an actor in the scenes he lie
scribed and in the telling OF the story
lit was perfectly evident that naval red
tape found little favor with him in his
long and distinguished career, while
the board of strategy of the navy de-
partment received no more consider
alton than the regulations demanded.
Making it plain that nsyal officer,
active Or retired, is not at liberty TO
discuss things higher up with the pub
lie. and is not supposed to criticise coG-
sress, the admiral nevertheless found
a way to indicate his sentiments with
out expressing them in so many words.
Stirs Hearers Patriotism.
The lecture followed dinner at
the Kimball hotel attended by the adj.
miral and Mrs. Evans, his manager,
Mr.. Cruikshank, and members of ths
club and their ladies. Physical in.
iirmities partly due to reminders of
civil war, rendered it necessary for
the admiral to sit while speaking, but
his address lost nothing thereby, and
! its reception was most cordial. IN
fact, the more graphic passages in his
narrative were of the kind to stir the
patriotic American blood anywhere
and under any circumstances.
| In opening his address the admiral,
who was presented most gracefully
and appropriately by President Ralph
I ,f he oi,,h
| Tho Atlantic fleet was not organ.
lied until the winter and spring OF
1907. Up to that time We had been
using two squadrons instead of fleet
! WIS placed in command at Hampton
Eua..s, where practically the whole
navy was assembled May 15 Our first
duty there was to make the IamGstow,
exposition Il success. We have seldom
had such a hard thing to do. Our sec
ond Guty was to entertain foreign of
fccrs. and. in the third place, to en-
terrain our own people.
The fleet was in peculiar condi
tion as the ships had never been under
way together. For a time the pres.
of the country divided on the PROPOSE
ton. About half of the papers sale
that the feet was going TO the Paciii'
while the rest of them said that it wa:
not, as President Roosevelt would no
dare do such thing as ii would star
Il war with Japan and cause all kind:
of trouble. They took just the courS,
to get the president to send us.
Ready for ANYTHING
Il did not care snap what kline
on peaceful mission and that anyon,
who cared to interfere would have L
take the consequences. We got avn,
just as soon as the exposition expired
and we were all glad when we so
to sea"
\ brief account of the troubles o
the fleet trying TO find place for tar
get practice, changing men, and get
ting supplies was given by the admiral
He cOmplimeutCd the western boys
who were a little green about ba:
1 tIcship." but made fine seamen whel
properly drilled.
Among the supplies taken on boa~
II W ltSC ll,"'V men ~ udSS WITHOUT
base of supplies were the following:
iii $4,000 pounds of fresh turkey an
5000 pounds of cranbcrries for tn
Christmas dinner. $4,000 pounds q
fresh beef. 10000 pounds pork loir
100000 pounds of ham. 10000 pounc,
of onions. cocoon pounds of potatoe
10000 dozen fresh eggs, and otha
things in proportion.
1 Christmas at Trinidad.
81 In speaking OF Christmas day =
Trinidad he said:
1T was an inspiring sight in the Ia
= Dor Chrlstmass morning when 81 hi
: American flags floated from the ship
! | sent 1000 blue jackets ashore in tn
, afternoon, and they behaved spleI
didly. 1t was the same way wherevt
they landed. they reflected credit O
you and your country. They wante
to reflect credit upon you and the
did
81 was glad to show me of tho.
buffers down in South merica III.
we were there with the goods, and W
q did it,
High tribute was paid to the men