Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-18
THE NAVAL REVIEW
At Portsmouth, Eng, Had Many
Spectacular Features.
But as Fighting Force, Fleet Was Not
Very Formidable.
Immense Crowd of visitors-The KIND
RoundIy Cheered.

Portsmouth, Eng, Aug. liking
Edward completed the program of the
| coronation festivities. Saturday, by re-
viewing the fleet for the first time since
his accession.
From a spectacular point of view the
assemblage Of 100 and odd war vessels
in the rcadstead off Spithead was u
magnificent show, but to those looking
beneath the brilliant veneer of paint
and polish it was evident that the fight
ing strength of the fleet was by no
means formidable.
The lines of ships were thickly dot
ted with ineffectives. Among these
may be mentioned the third-class cruis-
er Calliope of Apia fame, while others
included such relics as the battleships
Devastation, Dreadnaught and Camp
erdown.
The Dreadnaught, Camperdown and
Edinburgh 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 how
ever, that the display represented
merely the home fleet, not a single ves-
sci having been withdrawn from a for
eign station to participate in the pag-
cant.
The day opened fine There was an
immense influx of visitors. The waters
of the Solent We're covered with pleas
ure craft of every variety, from the
tiny canoe to the big excursion steamer,
and every vantage point on shore was
covered with spectators.
At A. Nj. in response to signal, the
fleet broke out flags, and in the space
of Il minute the lines of black hulls
were transformed into parti-colored
lines of tiuttering bunting. Simultan-
eously, the pennant of Admiral Sir
Charles Hotham, the commander-in-
chief at Portsmouth, was flung out
from the peak of the Royal Sovereign,
which acted as flagship of the fleet.
Five other admirals hags were also in
view in different sections of the parade.
The five lines in which the fleet was
mOored were midway between the Isle
Of Wight and the mainland. Nearest
TO the Portsmouth shore were the spec
ial service vessels and yachts and few
distinguished visiting craft, headed by
the conspicuous white hull Of the Jap
anese torpedo boat destroyer Asachio.
The next in line was made up of 81
British torpedo boat destroyers. Then
there was a line of cruisers and gun
boats. Then a double line of battles
ships and finally another line of cruis-
erS.
Another parallel lire, nearest to the
Isle of Wight, was made up of foreign
men-of-war, including two Japanese
cruisers. the Asam2 and Takasago; the
Italian armored cruiser Carlo Alberto.
and the Portuguese cruiser Dom Car
los i.
The precaution had been taken to
compel all the vessels present to burn
smokeless coal, but as the day adj
vanced a haze spread over the water
and scurrying small craft frequently
disappeared in banks of mist.
At 1890 p. NJ, the lines Of the fleet
closed, the gunboats drove all unau-
thorized craft out of the forbidden area
and promptly at o'clock. the royal
yacht Victoria and Albert, with King
Edward, Queen Alexandra and other
royal personages on board, slowly got
under way.
This movement was signaled by a
gun shot from the Royal Sovereign, and
thousands of jackies swarmed over the
decks, superstructures and fighting
tops and manned ship in honor of their
firing of the royal salute of 81 guns.
Amid the crash OF naval ordnance the
Kings yacht moved slowly eastward.
The beach and piers were crowded
with sightseers and the harbor filled
with pleasure boats of all descriptions
hours before the Examinations of the
fleet.
At 9 o'clock in the evening, a rocket
was sent up from the royal yacht and a
moment later the dim outline of the
yacht burst out in thousands Of incan-
descent lights. This was the signal for
the hundreds Of other ships and, as IL
by magic, the entire fleet was illumi-
mated in IA great blaze of light.
The sudden change from dusky shad-
ows of batteships to one of electric
brilliancy had startling effect on the
| crowds ashore and afioat and they
made manifest their delight by rounds
| of cheers.
The lines of the tunnels. masts and
Continued on page 81