The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-19

Review Monday by the King.
Portsmouth. August liking Ed
ward completed the programme of the
coronation festivities today by review
ing 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.
Among these may be mentioned the
third class cruiser Colliope of Apia
fame. while others included such relics
a 5 the battleships Devastation, Dread
naught, Camerdown 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. how
ever that the display represented mere
ly the home fleet. not a single vessel
having been withdrawn from a foreign
station to participate in the pageant.
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 s a. m. in
response to a signal, the fleet broke out
flags and in the space of a minute the
lines of black hulls We're transformed
into parti-colored lanes of huttering
bunting. simultaneously the pennant
of Admiral Sir Charles Hotham, the
commander-in-chiefa at Portsmouth. was
flung out from the peak of the Royal
Sovereign, which today acted as flagship
Of the ship. Five other admirals flags
were also in view in different sections
of the parade. The five lines in which
the fleet was moored was located mid
way between the Isle of Wight and the
mainland.
Nearest to the Portsmouth shore We're
the special service vessels and yachts
and a few distinguished visiting YES
sells, headed by the conspicuous white
hull of the japanese torpedo boat de-
stroyer Asaschio. The next line was
made up Of thirty-tWo British torpedo
boat destroyers. Then there was
line of cruisers and gunboats. then 4
double line of battleships and finally
another line of cruisers. Another par
allel line, nearest to the Isle Of Wight,
was made up of foreign men-of-war.
including two Japanese cruisers the
Assama and Takasago; the Italian
armored cruiser Carlo Alberto, and the
Portuguese cruiser Don Carlos 1. The
precaution had been taken to compel all
the vessels present to burn smokeless
coal, but as the day advanced a haze
spread over the water and scurrying
small craft frequently disappeared in
banks of mist.
At 1890 p. m. the lines of the fleet
closed. the guard boats 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
signalled by a gunboat from the Royal
Sovereign and thousands of Jackles
swarmed over the decks. superstruc-
lures and fighting tops and manned
ship in honor of their approaching
majesties. Then came the firing of th@
royal salute of twenty-one guns. Amid
the crash of naval ordinance the king
yacht moved slowly eastward accompa-
MED by the royal yachts Osborne and
Albert and three others and escorted
by a fiotilla of torpedo boat destroyers.
The king, who wore the uniform OF an
admiral of the fleet. was surrounded
by a brilliant staff. AS his majesty
passed each ship the officers and men
cheered and when the Victoria and Al
bert, after traversing the lines. took up
fresh moorings abreast of the royal
sovereign the whole fleet Joined In
final roar of cheers for the king. who
then personally signalled an invitation
to all the flag officers. including those
of the foreign ships, 10 join him on the
royal yacht.
The fleet will be illuminated from $50
p. m. to midnight, when the final royal
salute will be fired.
The king will again inspect the fleet
Monday, when all the ships will steam
past the royal yacht.
The beach and piers were crowded
with sightseers and the harbor filled
with pleasure boats Of all descriptions
hours before the illumination Of the
fleet.
Thousands of persons who were ex-
pectantly awaiting the illumination o.
the. feet off Spit Head tonight not only