On March 18, the U.S.S. Rochester began her last cruise. From Shanghai she proceeded direct to Manila to the bone yard at Cavite where she will be dismantled. Hers was not the fate to go to an heroic grave with colours fying—instead wreckers will tear her to bits, piece Piece. Hardly a fitting end for the oldest commissioned ship in the American Navy, a ship at one time hamed after the greatest state in the Union.
Christened the New York in 1893 fas she slid down the ways of an Atlantic shipyard, she travelled the Seven Seas, adding glorious lustre to the flag which she flew and never sullied. Tu 1911 by naval order she became the Saratoga and within a few days after America entered the World War in 1917, she received the ame Rochester which she will carry until her colours are formally lowered for the last time several weeks hence in Cavite.
Tinged with sadness at the impending parting with a gallant old ship were the scenes of festivity at the Astor House Hotel on March
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.