Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-16
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
NAVAL REVIEW.

not as impressive nor as indicative of Brit
aims great naval strength as would have
been the postponed one ofseyen weeks ago.
There were fifteen less ships in line and
the absentees included all England's ex-
amples of present day naval architecture.
The most modern of the battleships was
launched five years ago aud an American
boat of the Kentucky type would have
a match for any two of them. OF all OF
the 100 vessels only one, the armored
cruiser Sutlej was really representative
Of Englands new navy. With her nine
inch guns and eleven inche armor and
complement of seven hundred men she
is almost battleship. The ships were
a mass of waving flags and banners, and
the quick mes sure of bands and the joy
full boom of salutes all reflected the great
gala occasion of the new reign. The
ships taking part in the review were
anchored in line after line par
alIel TO the Portsmouth shore. The
rows of ships stood up one behind the
other like seats in an amphitheatre.
rwenty-four small, low-lying torpedo
boat destroyers were extended out next
to the shore with seven torpedo boats
and number of training ships at the
end of line. Then behind them rose
twelve gunboats somewhat higher out OF
the water; then came line Of twenty
four majestic cruisers and towering above
them twenty one battleships. Beyond
these monsters lay representatives OF
England's merchant marine and the
warships of foreign nations.
Patrol boats kept a clear space all
about this great fleet. At some distance
toward Southampton were vessels almost
without number, bearing spectators.
They were of all sizes and kinds from
big Atlantic greyhounds, hired by
SPECTATORS especially for the occasion,
10 small launches and dingheys, and
they represented nearly every port in
The British Isles. Along the Isle of
Wight standing room" space was
reserved ;for yachts and small vessels
and to the east, off No Mans Fort, for
craft bearing spectators from that
direction. There were more than two
hundred large excursions boats and at
least five hundred smaller vessels. A
few of the big ships had as many as two
thousand sightseers aboard and from
that number they dwindled down to
mere row boats with half dozen.
Estimates agree that there are at least
me hundred thousand spectators watch
ing the review from the water.
When the review began, the royal yacht
Victoria and Albert, with the invalid
king on her deck, cast off her moOrings
and proceeded down one line and up an
other. AS the king approached the iron
lined sea aisles a small signal went up
from the semaphore on the bridge of the
Royal Sovereign. 1t was taken up and
passed along by the subordinate fagships
md cries went out from vessel to vessel
% "man ship" The yards, the rails,
the bridges and the fighting tops, which
a moment before had been naked, were
now coveredas if by magic with the sail
ors of the squadron. There were thirty
thousand of them and they stood immOva-
bic while the Victoria and Albert cane
along. No sooner did the kings yacht,
however, face each ship than there wfs
a quick sharp order and every man as if
moved by machinery, came to salute.
When the king had passed on they
resumed their position of attention
and remained so until the Victoria
and Albert returned to her mOOrings.
When the royal yacht was anchored a
small boat was unshipped from the Royal
Sovereign and Admiral Hotham entered
this with his immediate staff and pro-
ceeded to pay his respects to the King.
The other commanders and foreign adj
mirals made similar official calls and the
afternoon was spent in this way. This
evening from $3.50 O'Clock until sharp
midnight all the ships will be illumi-
mated and the night promises to be a
wonderful one. The king and queen
will stay on their yacht until Monday
morning when all the ships in the fleet
will file past in stately possession. The
review went off without hitch, not the
slightest accident to mar it being re-
ported.