The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-19
EDWARD OF ENGLAND
REVIEWS HIS FLEET
Over a Hundred Warships in
the Roadstead.
A SPLENDID SPECTACLE
The Fighting Strength of this Bril-
liant Array Small.
SOME RELICS THAT SUaVlVED THE FLOOD
The Display, However, Represents Only the
Home Fleet Of the Great Sea Ruler,
Albion. The King lnspects
II Again Monday.
1t Again Monday.
(By the Associated Press.)

NDS lin ACc'(
Portsmouth, August fixing Edward
completed the program Of the coronation
festivities today by reviewing the fleet
for the first time since his accession.
From a spectacular point of view the
assemblage of a hundred and odd war
vessels in the rOadstead off Spit Head
was a magnificent show, but to those
looking beneath the brilliant veener of
paint and polish, it was evident that the
fighting strength of the fleet was by no
means formidable. The lines of ships
were thickly dotted with ineffectives.
Among those may be mentioned the third
class cruiser Calliope, of Apia fame,
while others included such relics as the
battleships Devastation, Dreadnaught,
CamperdoWn and Edinburgh, which are
classed by some experts as absolutely
dangerous to their crews, while some Of
the nOminally effective fighters are still
armed with muzzle leaders.
1t must be pointed out, however, that
the display represented merely the home
fleet, not a single vessel having been
withdrawn from a foreign station to par
ticipate in the pageant.
The day opened fine. There was an
immense influx Of visitors. The waters
of the Solent were covered with pleas
ure craft of every variety, from the tiny
canoe to the big excursion steamer and
every vantage point on shore was cover
ed with spectators.
At s a. M, in response to a signal, the
fleet broke out flags in the space of a
Jr,1+ IT, 1S~~- e I1--1 ~ --
transformed into parti-colored lanes of
fluttering bunti lg. simultaneously the
pennant of Admiral Sir Charles Rotham,
the cOmmander-in-chief at Portsmouth
was flung out from the peak of the Royal
Sovereign, which today acted as flagship
of the fleet. Five other admiral flags
were also in view in different sections OF
the parade. The five lines in which the
fleet was moored were located midway
between the Isle of Wight and the main
land.
Nearest to the Portsmouth shore were
the special service vessels and yachts and
a few distinguished visiting vessels,
headed by the white hulled japanese tor
pedo destroyer Asachio. The next line
was made up of thirty-tWo British tor
pedo beat destroyers. Then there was
IL INV u u uIot o1lu SuuDOdlS, lIItIl q
double line of battleships and finally
another line of cruisers.
Another parallel line, nearest to the
Isle OF Wight, was made up of foreign
men of war, including two Japanese
cruisers, the Asama and Takasago; the
Italian armored cruiser Carlo Alberto,
and the Portuguese cruiser Dom Carlos,
The precaution had been taken to com
mol oil tho oernl -,o.o I-
smOkeless coal, but as the day advanced
a haze spread over the water and sour
rying small craft frequently disappeared
in banks Of mist.
AT 1913 OPP. N. the lines of the fleet
closed, the guard boats drove all unau.
thorizcd craft out of the forbidden area
and, promptly at 2 o'clock the roya
yachts Victoria and Albert, with King
Edward, Queen Alexandra and Other
royal personages on board, slowly go
under way.
This movement was signalled by {
gunshot from the Royal Sovereign and
thousands of jackies sWarmed over The
decks, supeFstructures and fighting tops
and manned ship in honor Of their ap.
preaching majesties. Then came the fir.
ing OF the royal salute of twenty-ont
guns. Amid the crash of naval ordnance
the Kings yacht moved slowly eastward
accompanied by the royal yachts Os-
borne and Alberta and three others anC
escorted by a fotilla Of torpedo boat de.
S%troycrS.
The King, who wore the uniform of al
admiral Of the fleet, was surrounded by
u brilliant stan. AS His Majesty passed
each ship the officers and men Cheeret
and when the Victoria and Albert, afte
traVersing the lines, took up fresh moor
1nSs abreast of the Royal Sovereign, thu
whole fleet joined i'll a final roar O
cheers for the King, who then PERSONAL,
siGnalled an invitation to all the flas
officers, including those of the foreign
ships, to join him on the royal yacht.
a storm of a hours duration DELAYED
the illumination, which was Witnesse
by thousands.
a rocket was sent up from the roya
yacht, and a moment later. the dim out
line of the yacht burst out in thousand
OF Incande6ccnt lights. This was the sig
nal for the hundreds of other ships, and
as If by magic, the entire fleet was illum
mated in a great blaze of light. Til