The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-17
NAVAL REVIEW
FOR PRESIDENT
The North Atlantic Fleet Assemblies
for Summer Maneuvers at
Oyster Bay.
Several Miles of Fighting Ships Wis
ible From the Presidents Win
dows This Morning.
Review Is by Far the Most Elabor.
ate Ever Attempted by Ameri-
o.. can Naval Forces.

Oyster Bay, L. l., Aug. 17.-Twenty-one
warships drawn up in four parallel col
umns mile long and including some OF
the best fighting ships of the United
States navy, resting upon the CLASSY sur
face of Long Island sound. composed the
picture which lay spread out before PreSi-
dent Roosevelt when he stepped out upon
the yeranda of his home at Sycamore hill
early to-day.
Their brass work shining under the
slanting rays of the morning sun gave
evidence that every ship was spick and
span for this the first naval review at the
nations summer capitol and possibly the
first ever held for the exclusive purpose
of presidential honors.
Commanded by Rear Admiral Barker
and three other naval officers Of similar
rank the fleet, comprising two squadrons
each of two divisions, besides tlotllla
of torpedo boat destroyers, Included
representative of nearly every type OF
fighting craft from the ponderous Illinois
to the lean destroyers
Two parallel columns Of battleships and
cruisers headed by the Kearsarge, Rear
Admiral Bankers flagship, and fianked
by files of destroyers, composing the
North Atlantic fleet. covered the placid
sound for two miles off shore fron1p PIC
turesuue Lloyds Neck, and blockad1ng
the mouth Of Oyster Bay, presented a
splendid marine spectacle, abundantly
suggestive OF America Seeh po"SA'
Clustered in the mouth of the bay rested
the presidents yacht Mayfower. Secre-
tary Moodys official craft, the Dolphln'
and Sir Thomas Ltpton's beautiful steam
yacht Erin, surrounded by graceful meet
of steam and sailing yachts, gathered 10
witness the imposing ceremony "hen the
president and the fleet officially exchanged
greetings.
Fatrer weather for the review could not
have been asked. When the president
boarded the Mayfower's launch at the j.
West Roosevelt landing the big white
shapes of the war vessels, between tne
double lines Of gray destroyers doomed up
out Of thin haze that hung over the
sound. Hardly a ripple wrinkled the sur
face Of the water.
The Mayflower lay In the mouth Of Oys-
ter Bay Near by was the Dolphin with
Secretary Moody, Admiral Dewey and sew
eral rear admirals on board.
Before the president arrived, Secre-
tary Moody, Admiral Dewey, Rear Ad-
miral Layton, chief of the bureau or
navlzation; Rear Admiral Rogers, COM
mandant of the New York nayy yards,
Captain Brownson. commandant OF the
naval academy: General Chaffee, Sir
Thomas Upton, Colonel Sharman-C raw-
ford of the ROYAL Ulster Yacht club; G.
oliver Iselin, w. Butler Duncan, Wood
bury Kane and Commodore Frederick G.
Bourne Of New York Yacht club were
taken Oh DOdlu LliC 4Ie'S iio"Si'
Statutes the President.
AS the president stepped on the deck
of the Mayfower her guns spoke the first
salute of the morning. Leaving her an
chorage the Dolphin passed the May
flower, saluting as she went by. Then the
Mayflower steamed down the bay, fol
lowed by the presidents yacht Sylph, nav
ing the guests Of the president on board
Slowly the presidents flagship moved ou
r. tha aonnS where the battleSllDS anC
cruisers lay in two parallel lines length
wise Of the sound, with column or de
stroyers thanking each line OF the large
ships The right column was composed o
two divisions, the first consisting OF tn
Kearsarge, Illinois and Alabama unde
conmmand of Rear Admiral Barker; tn
second comprising the Texas, Baltimor
and Chicago, commanded by Rear Admira
Sands.
The left column included Rear Admire
Coghlan's flagship, the Olympia and tn
cruiser Topeka, composing the first d1V1
sion, and the Yankee, Prairie, Panthe
and Dolphin the second division, Rea
Admiral Wise commanding. Thanking tn
first column and between it and the Lon
island shore, was the first division
the destroyer flotilla, the Decature, Balm
bridge, Barry, Dale and Chauncey, unde
command Of Lieutenant l.. H. Chandle
Lying outside of all the remainder Of tn
fleet was flanking column Of destroyer
including the Truxton, Worden, Whippl
Stewart and Lawrence, commanded
Lieutenant r. X. Benham.
Surrounding them was a flotllla OF steal
craft Of all description, number a hur
dred vessels and including splendid gres
steam yachts. A string of code sigma
fluttered in the rigging Of the Dolphin
an answering string hung Imply fro
the Kearsarge's yard. and many fias
wigwagged from ship to ship Of the b.
fleet.
Files Presidents Flag.
With the presidents flag flying fro
her main truck, the Mayfower steame
slowly off to the east end OF the r1g]
column, made a sweeping curve al
moved down thru the lane between II
first column Of battleshfps and cruise
and the first column of destroyers. Lin
Of white clad sailors manned the rail
superstructure, fighting tops and yar'
of the white fleet and dotted the rails
the dark bulls of the destroyers. Scurr.
ing launches cleared the course OF II
Mayhower and her satellite, the Sylp
as they entered the lane.
A 12-pound gun in the Kearsarge's SCI
ondary battery spurted a little flash
- smoke and the succession Of PRESIDENT
salutes began. While the smoke we
drifting from the Kearsarge's guns h
band struck up Columbia" and her sal
ors gave the president a ringing cheer
the Mayfower moved by. At a speed
three emiles an hour, the presidents fla.
ship proceeded down the lane and, as 81
approa ched the guns Of each Of the shi
In turn spoke in salute, their bands al
the cheers Of the sailors joining in II
tribute. The guns Of the destroyers we
silent.
Fired Twenty-one Guns.
From the bridge of the Mayflower Pres
dent Roosevelt. surrounded by a group
adnirals and friends, acknowledged t
salutes. At the end Of the lane the Ma
flower turned and passed down the II
between the second column of cruisers a
-. second line of destroyers. One after a
other the guns fthe Dolphin, Panth
Prairie Yankee. Topeka and Olympia $
luted until having encfrcles the fleet a
completed the first part of the revie
the Mayflower stopped at the head Of
two columns between the Kearsarge a
the Olympia.
AS naval picture, the scene was sple
did and inspiring. Launches put Off fr'
49, the warships and scurried over to
Mayfower, conveying the command
and flag officers to pay their respects
the president.
This formality completed, the preside
p1e NC VI