The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-08-21
REVIEWS HIS FLEET.
Great Naval Pageant Marks Close
of Coronation Festivities.

Portsmouth, Aug. 1s.-King Edward
completed the programme of the
coronation festivities Saturday by re-
viewing the feet for the first time
since his accession. From spectac-
ular point of view the assemblage OF
hundred and odd war vessels IN the
roadstead off Spithead was magnif-
cent show, but to those looking be-
meath 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 dotted with ineffectives.
Among these may be mentioned the
third-class cruiser Calliope, of Apia
fame, while others included such relics
as the battleshiRs Devastation, Dread
naught, Camperdown, and Edinburgh,
which are classed by some experts as
absolutely dangerous to the 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 feet, not single YES
sci having been withdrawn from
foreign station to participate in the
pageant.
The day opened fine. There was an
immense influx of visitors. The wa
tiers of the Solent were covered with
pleasure craft of every variety, from
the tiny canoe to the big excursion
steamer, and every vantage point oil
shore was covered with spectators.
At eight a. M, in response to signal,
the fleet broke out flags and in the
space of minute the lines Of black
bulls were transformed into partl-
colored lines of fiuttering bunting.
Simultaneously the pennant OF ADJ
miral Sir Charles Hotham, the COM
mander in chief at Portsmouth, was
flung out from the peak of the Royal
Sovereign, which Saturday acted as
flagship of the fleet. Five other adj
mirals' flags were also in view in diff
ferent sections of the parade. The
five lines in which the tleetwas moored
were located midway between the Isle
of Wight and the mainland.
At 1880 p. m. the lines of the
fleet closed, the guard boats drove
all unauthorized craft out of the
forbidden area and, promptly at two
o'clock the royal yacht Victoria and
Albert with King Edward, Queen
Alexandra and other royal person
ages on board, slowly got under
weigh. This movement was signaled
by gunshot from the royal Sover-
eign and thousands of jackies
swarmed over the decks, superstruc-
lures and fghting-tops and manned
ship in honor of their approaching
maiesties. Then came the firing of
the royal salute of 21 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
and escorted by fotilla of torpedo
boat destroyers. The king, who
wore the uniform of an admiral OF
the feet, was surrounded by bril-.
liant staff. AS his majesty passed
each ship the officers and men
cheered and when the Victoria and
Albert after traversing the lines
took up fresh moorings abreast OF
the royal sovereign the whole feet
Joined in final roar of cheers fol
the king, who then personally sig
nailed an invitation to all the flag of
fcers, including those of the foreign
ships, to join him on the roya
yacht.
The feet was illuminated from 9:3(
p. m. midnight, when the final roya
salute was fired.