The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-04

Evans when he surrended the COM
mand OF his feet to the Rear Admiral
next in rank, "and God be thanked
that we had none of the fighting to
do" Although there was no fight
ing, still it was not a continuous
frolic, for therefwas much work to do
constantly in the way of accomplish
ing the stated primary object of the
cruise-to Increase the general cruis-
ing and team efficiency of the ships
as units and ss one solid command.
HIGH STANDARD OF ENLISTED
The excellent conduct of the en-
listed men has been a marvel at the
Navy Department. While the teach
ing of the navy always has been for
the moral nplift and general world
education OF the blue-iacket, the high
standard he maintained on his cruise
is regarded as principally due to the
fatherly interest in "his boys" of Ad-
miral Evans on the first leg of the
trip. Although doubtless hundreds
of the new recruits had visions of a
continuous frolic i'm foreign ports, OF
being entertained, OF loadirg them
selves with the various intoxicants
and foods of the world, of being haul
ed about in 'rickshaws and basking
in the smiles of Geisha girls. they
were brought to realize the serious
ness of the whole business when the
feet circulars from the flagship
reached them. Not only were they
admOnisheh to be on their best be-
havior at all times ashore as we'll as
on ship, but they were inspired by
these communications and the Ad-
miral's public speeches to a proper
sense of duty and moral conduct.
The high class of the enlisted per-
sOnnel has had perhaps as much as
an, thing to do with advertising the
! formidabiIity OF the feet abroad.
Foreign officials who viewed the feet
are on record as having been won
with a greater respect for the United
States when they gazed on the splen-
did engines of war in their ports, and
this respect was Increased when they
realized the high type of young men
whose places in battle would be be-
hind the guns. These were the men
who, at Magdalena Bay and later at
; Mapila Bay, shot straighter with
the six to twelve inch guns than any
other men in the world.
INVALUABLE TRAINING RE-
CEIVED.
ALI naval authorities agrae that
aside from any good political effect
/ of the world cruise, it WAS valuable
education for the officers and men in
travel and in the meeting of their
fellows in other navies; and, what is
still more important, it has proven
! invaluable in the matter of training
for the operation of warships and
! guns for the purpose for which they
/ We're made. The cruising radius of
the big warships could never have
been so fully tested iii home waters.
The training of officers and men to
work together on any one ship itself
was important, but far more SO was
the team work-the concerted action
OF the ships rs units, as divisions, IN
squadrOn~, as II homogeneous feet.
Battle tactics, which never but once
before the cruise had been surceSs-
fully carried out-becausp, for the
most part, of the incompleteness OF
the fieet-were indulged in at various
stages of the voyage, from the be-
ginning to the end.
After having cruised 10000 miles,
with little or no repairs to the ships
all this time, Admiral Sperry was
proud to report to the Navy Depart
ment from Gibraltar that the entire
command could 60. intact, half that
distance again without single yes
sci necessarily being sent to dock,
unless, of course, the unforeseen
should happen. Even naval experts,
who have carefully studied all Of the
reports of Admiral Evans. who took
the feet around the Horn to San
Francisco, and of Admiral Sperry,
who brought it home, are at loss
as to how to measure accurately the
real value of the great cruise from a
naval or military point OF view.
FLEET IN THE PINK OF CONDI-
TION.
1t was an ideal feet as it started
out from Hampton Roads. 1t is alto