The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-27
Lieut.. McCrea, of the Brooklyn
Describes the scene


/ RYDE, Isle of Wight. June 26.-Iie11t
/ f1enry McCrea, the navigator of the
! UNITED States cruiser Brooklyn. flag
snip Of Rear Admiral J. N. Miller. at
the request Of the Associated Press
mas written the following account of
today's picture from an American Off
GERS point of view:
DID ever prince or potentate have a
better occasion to feel proud than did
the Prince of Wales today, as he steam
ed through the lines of vessels gathered
mere to do honor to the noble queen
and himself? On one side was Britain's
own magnificent fleet and on the other
Heet Of vessels from each of the
maritime nations. All came in the
interests of peace and good will. The
British fleet was composed of more
classes of vessels than any fleet ever
assembled, for they seVerally present
pecullar1ties fitted to satisfy all con-
dltlons of the much-varied services re-
CURED, verify, a complete navy in it.
self.
The column of foreign men Of war
was composed of typical vessels from
several countries. An interesting as
semblage of arnlDred battleships pre-
dominated and q comparison of the
| ornaments of similar vessels. say of
the Indiana class in our service, leaves
little doubt in my mind of the SUPER
i
Nswan-like" Brooklyn, as a Britisher
called her, shines out decidedly as a
mark OF our advancement in the art
of Shfp-building. She is modern. fast
and generally effective and her motto,
right makes might" is peculiarly fit
ting 1t expresses the sentiment which
fired the hearts of the patriots of 1776,
as Well as represents the advance Of
civilization. If there is any doubt as to
the policy best adapted for our coun-
try, a glance at the armament and war
material here represented should con-
vince us Of the absolute necessity for
preparation as we'll as of the extreme
need of moderation before beginning
hostilities
The material here assembled is thus
far experimental, for few, if any, OF
the guns present were ever fired In
anger. Nevertheless, we know their
effectiveness against armor plates as
we'll as against masonry, so It be-
hooves us to believe in their destruct-
i've qualities in war times. Again.
the question naturally arises, how
soon will these very ships with their
modern excellence, become out of date
to some of the new improvements?
Fancy what this would mean in Eng
land, where even small inventions
must come slowly into general use,
owing to the expense Of their adop-
ton on such a scale.
But this is emphatically a peace
jubilee. The nations represented at
the review came here bearing COR
gratulations and best wishes for the
queen and the English nation There.
fore no talk Of war or even of arhi-
tration is heard attention generally
being called to the victories gained
in these piping times of peace Sure
ly the reign of Victoria is most ex-
emplary in this.
Much might be written of the cor
dial welcome extended to all foreign
ers, both ashore and afloat Our well
come has been apparent even to the
lukewarm, and English hospitality
will lose nothing Of its glamor or
prestige through the gallant naval Of
ficers who are a credit to their coun-
try in social as Well as military
events.
From a money point of view. I
judge that about two billions worth
OF war materials swings at its moor
ing here, without counting the fleet
OF merchant and other vessels. The
review will be long remembered,
much will be written about it. prob
ably it will never be duplicated, and
it will be used as an argument for
peace as we'll as in the shape of a
warming to prepare. If so. we should
be thankful to all concerned in it's
management, heartily joining with
our English cousins in God Save the
Queen"