The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-17
BRITISH FLEET
UNDER REVIEW
Sorry Exhibition Made by mis-
tress of the Seas.
VESSELS NOT FORMIDABLE
ADMIRALTY THE SUBJECT OF
CONSIDERABLE CRITICISM.

ward completed the programme of
the coronation festivities today by
reviewing the fleet for the first time
since his accession. From a spectacular
point of view the assembling of 100 and
odd war vessels in the roadsted off
Spithead was a magnificent show, but
TO those looking beneath the brilliant
veneer of paint and polish. it was evil
dent that the fighting strength of the
fleet was by no means formidable. The
line of ships was thickly dotted with
ineffectives. However, the display rep
resented merely the home fleet, not a
single vessel having been withdrawn
from a foreign station to participate.
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 20 the big excursion steam
er, and every vantage point on shore
was covered with spectators.
With Flags Flying.
At a. m, in response to a signal,
the fleet broke out flags and in the
space of u minute the lines of black
hulls were transformed into YaFi-cof-
ored lanes of huttering bunting. Stimuli
taneously the pennant of Admiral Sir
Charles Hotham, commander-in-chief
at Portsmouth, was flung out from the
peak of the Royal Sovereign, which to-
day acted as flagship of the fleet. Five
other admirafs flags were also in view
in different sections of the parade. The
five lines in which the fleet was moored
were located midway between the Isle
of Wight and the mainland.
Nearest to the Portsmouth shore were
the special service vessels and yachts.
and few distinguished visiting vessels
headed by the conspicuous white hull
of the Japanese torpedo boat destroy
er Aschio. The next line was made up
Of thfrty-two British torpedo boat de-
stroyers. Then there was a line of
cruisers and gunboats. then a double
line of battleships and finally another
line of cruisers. Another parallel line
nearest the Isle of Wight was made up
of foreign men-of-war, including two
japanese cruisers, the Asania and Ia
kasago; the Italian armored cruiser
Carlo Alberto. and the Portuguese
cruiser, Don Carlos /. The precaution
had been taken to compel all the
sells present to burn smokeless coal.
but as the day advanced haze spread
over the water and small craft fire.
quently disappeared in banks of mist.
The King Saluted.
At 1880 p. m. the lines of the fleet
closed, the gunboats drove all unau-
thorized craft out of the forbidden area
and promptly at 2 O'Clock the royal
yacht Albert and Victoria with King
Edward, Queen Alexandra and other
royal persOnages on board slowly got
under way. This movement was sig
nailed by a gun shot from the Royal
Sovereign and thousands Of jackies
swarmed over the decks, superstruc-
lures and fighting tops and manned
ship in honor of their approaching
maJesfies.
Then came the firing of the royal
salute. Amid the crash of naval ord
nance the kings yacht moved slowly,
accompanied by the royal yachts OS-
borne and Albert and three others, and
escorted by a fleet of torpedo boat de-
stroyers- The king, who wore the uni
form of an admiral of the fleet was
surrounded by a brilliant staff As his
majesty passed each ship the officers
and men eheered, and when the Vic
toria and Albert, after traversing the
lines, took up fresh nooring abreast
of the Royal Sovereign, the whole fleet
Joined in final roar of cheers for the
king, who then personally signaIed the
invitation to all the flag officers. in
Guiding those of the foreign ships, to
JOIN MIN on the royal yacht.
The feet will be Illuminated from
$3.50 p. m. TO midnight. when the final
royal salute will be fired The king will
again inspect the feet Monday. when
all the ships will steam past the royal
yacht
After what one writer calls this dis
play showing the progress of naval
construction during the Victorian era.
from the time Of the early wooden ves-
sels,' the fleet will dispense.
The beach and piers We're crowded
with sight-seers and the harbor filled
with pleasure boats of all descriptions
hours before the illumination of the
fleet
At O'Clock this evening a rocket
was sent up from the royal yacht and
a moment later the dim outline of the
yacht burst out in thousands of in
candescent lights. This was the sig
nal for the hundreds of other shiDS.
and as il by magic the entire fleet
was Illuminated in great blaze of
light The sudden change from dusky
shapes of battleships to one of electric
brilliancy had a startling effect on the
crowds ashore and afioat. and they
made manifest their delight by rounds
of cheers.
The lines of the tunnels. masts and
upper decks of the ships were outlined
in mellow glowing lines and the flag
ships by a clear pale light, mast high.
The brilliant lights of the merchant
ships and pleasure craft. added to the
splendor of the maritime fete Stimuli
taneOusly hundreds of public and pri-
vate buildings ashore were iIIumidaf-
ed. while an imposing display of fire.
n cd in