Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-16
FESTIVITIES At End
Coronation Program Completed
Today by Review Of the
English Fleet.
Naval Show Was Magnificent,
But Fighting Strength Not
Formidable.
Immense Influx OF Visitors to
Witness the Pageant Off
Spithead Bay.

Portsmouth, Aug. licking Edward
completed the program OF the corona
ton festivities today by reviewing the
fleet for the first time since his acces-
the assemblage of 100 and odd war YES
sells in the roadstead off Spithead was q
magnificent show. but to those looking
beneath the brilliant veneer of paint
and polish it was evident the fighting
strength of the fleet was by no means
formidable. The lines of ships Were
thickly dotted with inetfectives. Among
these may be mentioned the third-class
cruiser Calliope, of Apia fame. while
others included such relies as the bat
tleships Devastation, DreadnauSht.
Camperdown and Edinburgh, which
are classed by some experts as abso-
lutely dangerous to their crews. While
some nominally effective fighters arc
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Withdrawn from foreign stations to
participate 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
covered with spectators. AT a. M, in
response to signal. the feet broke out
flags and in the space of minute the
lines of black hulls We're transformed
into partly colored lines. iluttering
bunting. Simultaneously TIRE pennant
of Admiral Sir Charles Hotham, COM
mander-in- chief at Portsmouth, was
flung out from the peak OF the Royal
Sovereign, which today acted as flag
ship of the fleet. Five other admirals
flags were also in view in different sec
tions of the parade. The five lines in
which the fleet was moored We're To-
Gated midway between the Isle of
Wight and the mainland.
The nearest to the Portsmouth shore
svere the special service vessels and
yachts and few distinguished visiting
vessels headed by the conspicuous
white hull of the japanese torpedo
boat destroyer as Aschio.
The next line was made up of
thirty-two British torpedo boat de-
stroyers. Then there was line of
cruisers and gunboats. then a double
line of battle ships and finally another
line of cruisers. Another parallel line
nearest the Isle of Wight, made up of
foreign men of war, including two Jap
anese cruisers, Astama and Takasagea
Italian armored cruiser Carlo Alberto
= II
At 1890 the lines OF the fleet closed.
the guard boats drove all unauthorized
craft out of the forbidden area and
promptly at 2 o'clock the Royal Yacht
Victoria and Albert with King Edward.
Queen Alexandria and other royal per-
sonages on board, slowly got under
weigh. This movement was signalled
by a gunboat from the Royal Sovereign
and thousands of jackies swarmed over
the decks, Superstructures and fighting
tops and manned the ship in honor
of their approaching majesties. Then
came the firing of the royal salute of
twenty-one guns. Amid the crash of
naval ordnance the kings yacht moved
slowly eastward, accompanied by the
royal yachts Osborne and Alberta and
three others and escorted by flotilla
of torpedo boat destroyers.
The king, who wore the uniform of
the 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 the Royal
Sovereign the whole fleet joined in
final roar of cheers for the king, who
then personally signalled an invitation
to all flag officers. including those of
foreign ships to join him on the Royal
Yacht. The fiee.~will be Illuminated
from $3.50 p. m. to midnight when the
final royal salute will be fired