The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-17
A SPLENDID SPECTACLE
The Fighting Strength of this Bril-
liant Array Small.
SOME RELICS THAT SURVIVED THE FLOOD
The Display, However, Represents Only the
Home Fleet of the Great Sea Ruler,
Albion. The King lnspecis
ItAgain Monday.
1t Again Monday.
(By the Associated Press.)


Portsmouth. August licking Edward
completed the program of the coronation
festivities today by reviewing the fleet
for the first time since his accession.
From a spectacular point of view the
assemblage of hundred and odd war
vessels in the roadstead off Spit Head
was a magnificent show, but to those
looking beneath the brilliant veener of
paint and polish, it was evident that the
fighting strength of the fleet was by no
means formidable. The lines of ships
were thickly dotted with ineffectives
Among those may be mentioned the third
class cruiser Calliope, of Apia fame
while others included such relics as the
battleships Devastation, Dreadnaught,
Camperdown and Edinburgh, which are
classed by some experts as absolutely
dangerous to their crews, while some of
the nominally effective fighters are 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withdrawn from a foreign station to par
ticipate 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 cover
ed with spectators.
At a. m. in response 10 a signal, the
fleet broke out flags in the space of a
minute the lines of black hulls were
transformed into parti-colored lanes of
fluttering bunting. simultaneously the
pennant of Admiral Sir Charles Rotham.
the commander chief at Portsmouth
was flung out from the peak of the Royal
Sovereign, which today acted as flagship
of the fleet. Five other admiral 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 main
land.
Nearest to the Portsmouth shore were
the special service vessels and yachts and
few distinguished visiting vessels,
headed by the white hulled Japanese tor
pedo destroyer Asachio. The next line
was made up of thirty-two British tor
pedo boat destroyers 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 to the
Isle of Wight, was made up of foreign
men of war, including two Japanese
cruisers, the Asama and Takasago; the
Italian armored cruiser Carlo Alberto,
and the Portuguese cruiser Dom Carlos.
The precaution had been taken to COM
pei all the vessels present to burh
smol<e!ess coal, but as the day advanced
a haze spread over the water and sour
rying small craft frequently disappeared
in banks of mist.
At 1878 0p. IN. the lines of the fleet
closed, the guard boats drove all unau-
thorized craft out of the forbidden area
and, promptly at o'clock the royal
yachts Victoria and Albert, with King
Edward, Queen Alexandra and other
royal personages on board, slowly got
under way.
This movement was signalled by a
gunshot from the Royal SOVEREIGN and
thousands of jackies swarmed over the
decks, superstructures and fighting tops
and manned ship in honor of their ap-
preaching maJesties. Then came the fir
ing of the royal salute of twenty-one
guns. Amid the crash of naval ordnance
the King yacht moved slowly eastward
accompanied by the royal yachts Os-
borne and Alberta and three others and
escorted by fiotilla of torpedo boat de-
stroyers.
The King, who wore the uniform of an
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 Albert, after
traversing the lines, took up fresh moor
ings abreast of the Royal Sovereign, the
whole fleet joined in a final roar of
cheers for the King, who then personally
signalled an invitation to all the flag
officers, including those of the foreign
ships, to Join him on the royal yacht.
The fleet will be illuminated from $3.50
p. m. to midnight, when the final royal
salute will be fired.
The King will again inspect the fleet
Monday, when all the ships will steam
past the royal yacht After what one
writer calls "this display showing the
progress of naval construction during
the Victorian era, from the time of the
early wooden vessels - the fleet will dis.
perse.
me beach and piers were crowded with
slght-seers and the harbor filled with