The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-18
GREAT NAVAL
 SPECTACLE President Reviewed Mag niflcent Flg i $ BARRY RAMNy z .1EcATuR
 -S Accident to Z . edo Destroy
 CT slight. For First Time in History of United States President in Time of
 Peace Reviewed
 Fleet.

Oyster Bay. Aug. l7--For the first time in the history of the country, the Presi- dent of the United States today reviewed and inspected, m time of peace, q great fleet of United States warships. Tho ceremony was magnificent and impress sive naval spectacle. It was unmarred by the slightest mishap until just atiits con clusion. when the torpedo boat destroyer Barry rammed the destroyer Decatur, fortunately. however. doing little dam- age.
 The incident was exciting. It occurred just at the moment when the President was receiving congratulations upon the success of the nianouvres.
 The first squadron of destroyers, con sisting of the Decatur. Bainbridge, Barry, Dale and Chauncey. all under command of Lieutenant L. H. Chandler, was ap- preaching the 'Mayfower at full speed. The vessels were in close formation.
 Orders were signalled from the Decatur to the other vessels to form wedge. Tn executing the orders, the Decatur swung across the bow of the Barry. An Instant later the Barry rammed her on the star board side. As the shlpa were running at speed of twenty knots. the blow was tremendous. The Decatur listed sharply to port and seemed to be in serious dis tress. From the Mayhower she appear ed to be sinking.
 The Mayfiower's boats were manned ip- stantly. but were not lowered qs the Dc eatur was seen to right herself. In Q few minutes she hoisted a signal of No serious damage.s The Barry, which had struck the Decatur gisncing bloW. had her bow crumpled by the collision, but she was not injured otherwise. The accident put a sudden stop to the man ouvres of the destroyer squadron.
 Admiral Dewey ordered Lieutenant Chandler to proched with the i've vessels to the Brooklyn navy yard. where such repairs as may bA necessary could he Hlaag aaiee iE. After the damage h$s bsen rspaiEsa: tho saus 4Fespl Ntll aFeioin Roosevelt noted the accident with great calmness. notwithstanding the fact that their son. Kermit was on board the De- eAtur at the time of the collision. In commenting on the accident, Admiral Dewey said that such an accident was a part of the war game and must at times. be expected. 8
 President Roosevelt entertained his guests and all the commanding oficers of the fleet at delightful iuncneoA oB board the MayfIower.
 During the luncheon, the President rose and said: 4
 we have with us today representa- tives of the great powers. Great Britain Germany. Russia and Japan. I ask you to drink to. these great powers and to
 The toast was drunk standing. Then the President continues: "We also have with us representatives of an interna- tional incident. Aa to that. may the best boat win.'' E
 With laughter and applause that toast likewise was drunk by the guests stand ing. asla
 Captain De Chair of the British sm- bassy. addressed the President as fol. lows: n
 'Tn the name of my colleagues. in the name of our sovereigns, and in the name of our countries, desiFe to thank you. I propose the health of the President of the United States" Rising again, the guests drank the toast heartily. At the conclusion of the luncheon, the officers returned to their ships. At 1928 the President went aboard the flagship Rear sarge. where he addressed the enlisted men and officers of the ship.
 President Roosevelt said: ''Ofacers and enlisted men: 1 wish to say a word of thanks to you on behalf of the people of the United States. There are many public servants whom hold in high es- teem; there are no others whom l hold in quite the esteem I do the officers and enlisted men of the navy and army of the United States.
 'In doing your work here, every bit should be done with an eye toward the day when upon every man from the ad- miral to the lowest in rank. may rest the and duty as to whether or not new page of honor in American his tory shall be turned.
 "As passed the Olympia, I remembered her grand victory of May 1, 1888, which made her a name forever one of renown in our history. But all aboard her. from admiral down to the lowest enlisted man, had been equipped for the work by days and by years of what must have been to many an irksome duty. In speaking to all of you want a chance to say a word of special recognition to the gun point CTS. The shots that hit are the shots that tell. I am happy to say that the American seamen have never been found deficient in the fighting edge. the first requisite of the fighting man. do not praise you for being brave; that is ex- pected. The coward is to be condemned rather than the brave man to be pFaieed. I expect every one to show a perfect to die rather than to see the slightest stain put upon the flag. but in addition you must know how to ight as we'll as know how to die; then you will be what I believe you are, the most ef- ficient fighting force in the world. again thank you for what you are. A peculiar responsibility attaches to each and every one of you. It has been a pleasure to see the ships and the guns, but above all the men behind the guns"
 When the President spoke of Admiral Dewey he turned toward him and bowed The admiral answered the bow. The men to cheer first the President and then the admiral.
 The President asked the name and birthplace of each of the gun pointers. They included men from all States in the Union. California. Texas, North Carolina, Maine, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and as well as from Germany, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
 On the Olympia he again was requested to say a word to the enlisted men He said in substance;
 ''As President of the United States wish on behalf of the entire country to greet you as representatives of the of- acers and enlisted men of the United States navy. Every u1an aboard the