Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-17


 fighting vessels ever gathered under ono flag The Atlantic and Pacific fleets joined company in the bay and there were more than forty ships in the four long columns that came 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 Chas. NJ. 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 California coast, fell upon Admiral Thomas Coupled with his duties as second in command, with the comman- der.in.chief ill., the social burden was not light one. Admiral Thomas was plainly failing in health when he sue ceeded Admiral Evans and he retained official command only from May 9 to May 15, 1908, being relieved at that time, ahead of the departments 's plans, in order that he might enjoy rest. As the fleet was sailing from San Francisco two months later, Admiral Thomas died suddenly at Del Monte. Cal.
 Death has twice Invaded the ranks of the captains who sailed with the fleet, but in both instances the officers had previously been relieved from duty. Captain Henry MeCrea, of the Georgia, most popular officer. died soon after his return to the east following re- linquishment of command at San Fran cisco. Captain Greenliof A. Merriam, who took the Missouri to the Pacific coast, capable man, also died within a comparatively short time after turn ing his vessel over to successor.
 Rear Admiral Sperry, who returns as commander-in.chief, sailed as eomman. der of the fourth division of the fleet, being ranked by both Admirals Evans and Thomas Rear Admiral William H. Emory was the fourth of the sailing ad. mirals, and he was retired while the ships were at Manila. Captains Seaton Schroeder, of the Virginia; Richard Wainwright, of the Louisiana, and Will liam B. Potter, of the Vermont, were the captains who attained flag rank during the cruise.
 Leaving Hampton Roads on 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 it 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 sixteen bat tleships circumnavigate the globe. At Trinidad the first of the gayeties oc. cured. The officers and men of the fleet were welcomed with hospitality which set a mark for all succeeding re- captions and from that time on each succeeding port tried to outdo its pre- decessors The climax of lavish dis plays, of parties and receptions. hn- although it would be 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 always be bright memory, for it was there that they first came into their own on the trip and all entertainments were ar. ranged in particular for the enlisted force. It was in Los Angeles also that "Jim v Jeffries, champion of the world, refereed the sailors boxing bouts and mingled with them in all their sports
 From Trinidad the fleet called next at Rio, where the days of the visit were overcrowded with social events. At Rio an unfounded rurhor told of plot by anarchists to blow up some of the Amer jean vessels. The first thrill of fear which swept the nation was quickly dis pelled when the story was shown to be n pure fabrication. From Rio the itin. erary led to Punta Arenas, that unique and interesting "farthest south" set clement on the Straits of Magellan Here again bospitablc people made the stay of the fleet an exceedingly pleasant one. The Chilean government sent cruiser to accompany the sixteen battlcships drought 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 waterway, the courtesy of the South American nation was fully appreciated
 When the ships had safely left the Straits, the department officials at Washington undoubtedly breathed d sigh of gratified relief, although on the sixteen big ironclads themselves there was never question in the mind of any officer or enlisted man as to the safety of the sturdy fighting craft. Sail. ing up the western coast of South Amer. ica the fleet passed in review of the president of Chile in the harbor of Val paraiso, sweeping in a great curve into the harbor and out again before the ad miring eyes of a deeply impressed peo pie. No stops were made between Punta Arenas and Callao where again the entertainments offered the visitors !. Al "A