River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-21
GREAT NAVAL PAGEANT.
King Edward Reviews the British
Fleet for First Time Since
His Accession.

Portsmouth, Aug. 1s.-King Edward
completed the programme of the
coronation festivities Saturday by re-
viewing the fleet for the first time
since his accession. From a sOectac-
ular point of view the assemblage Of
hundred and odd war vessels IN the
roadstead off Spithead was magnifl-
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 thicl<ly dotted with ineffectlves.
Among these may be mentioned the
third-class cruiser Calliope, of Apla
fame, while others included such relics
as the battleships 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 arc still armed with muzzle-
leaders. 1t must be pointed out, how
ever, that the display represented
merely the home fleet, 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sci having been withdrawn from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 on
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
hulls were transformed into parti-
colored lines of fluttering 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 fleet was moored
were located midway between the Isle
of Wight and the mainland.
At 1890 p. m. the lines of the
feet 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 a grnshot from the royal Sover-
eign and thousands of jacliea
swarmed over the decks, superstruc-
lures and fghtingtops and manned
ship in honor of their approaching
majesties. Then came the firing of
the royal salute of 81 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 a brill
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 fleet
Joined in a final roar of cheers for
the king, who then personally sig
nailed an invitation to all the flag Of
ficers, including those of the foreign
ships, to join him on the royal
YACHT