The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-18
PRESIDENT
REVIEWS Il.
SQUADRON.
Magnificent ] i Spectacle.
Off5'O-'y'S'ter Q Bay.
ONE ACCIDENT OF
EXCITING ING NATURE
Barry Rammed the Decatur.
Going at Good Speed.
PRESIDENTS SON WAS
ABOARD LATTER BOAT
After the Review President Roosevelt
Entertained Commanding Officers
and Foreign Naval Attaches at
Luncheon Aboard the May
flower-T Toasts Drunk
to Sovereigns. "A
(By Associated Press.)


OYSTER BAY, =. l., August T.-For
the first time insthe history Of the coun-
try, the President of the United States
to-day reviewedran Inspected. in time
II of peace, a great fleet Of United States
warships. The ceremony was a magnfl-
cent and impressive naval spectacle. 1t
was unmarried by the slightest mlshap
( until just at it's conclusion, when the
torpedo-b boat destroyer Barry rammed the
destroyer Decatur, fortunately, however.
doing little damage. sy
The Incident was exciting. It occurred
Just at the moment when the President
was receiving congratulations upon the
success of the manoeuvres. 3
" The first squadron OF destroyers. con-
sIsting OF the Deca tur, Bainbridge, Barry.
Dale and chauncey,l all under command
of Lieutenant L. II II Chandler, was ap-
preaching the 4 MayflnWer at full speed.
The vessels were In close formation, Or
Z ders were slgnalled from the Decatur to-
Stf1e other ves4els ~ form a 7, wedge In
executing the ordera the Decatur swung
across the bow Of the Barry. An instant
later3the Barry rammed her on the star
board side. AS the ships were running
at a speed Of twenty knots, the blow was
tremendous. Th> Decatur lifted sharply
to port and seemed to be In serious dis
tress. From the Mayflower she appeared
to be sinking.
NO SERIOUS DAMAGE.
The Maynowers boats were manned In
stantly. but were not lowered, as the De-
catur was seen to right herself. In a few
minutes she hoisted signal OF ''No3
serious damage Later she steamed
alongside the Mayflower and Lieutenant
Chandler reported that while his shia
had received bad bump on the star
board quarter. she was not materially
damaged. The injury was plainly evident
from the deck Of the Mayflower. She had
been struck about half way between her
stern and mdship and large dent had
been made In her plates. The starboard
rail was damaged, but otherwise the yes
sci VS. intact. The Barry, which had
struck the Decatur glancing blow. had
her bow crumpled by the collision. but
she was not injured otherwise.
The accident put a sudden stop to the
manoeuvres Of the destroyed squadron.
Admiral Dewey ordered Lieutenant
Chandler to proceed with the FIVE vessels
to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. where such
repairs as may be necessary could be
".
been repaired the squadron will rejoin the
fleet and continue the summer manoeu-
Vres.
President Roosevelt, who was intently
watching tho squadron OF destroyers
when the accident occurred. remarked
that such accidents, especially to destroy
ers, were likely to occur at any time,
In the execution of war manoeuvres, he
said some chances must be taken, and
IL the time ever should come when the
navy was afraid Of scratching of the
paint OF vessel Its efficiency would
deterlorate materially. Both the PresI-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt noted the acci-
dent with great calmness. notwithstnnd-
Ing the fact that their son Kermit was on
hoard the Decatur at tho time OF the COL
lsion. He was standing beside Lieuten-
ant Chandler when the vessel ran along
side the Mayhower to report.
i TWO LONG COLUMNS.
The review took place Oft Long Island,
two and n half miles OF the entrance to
Oyster Bay. President Roosevelt. In COM
pany with Secretary OF the Navy Moody,
Admiral Dewey. Rear-Adm!ral Taylor,
Rear-Admral Rodgers, Captain Brown
son, General Chatfee and Lieutenant Bar
ry, stood on tho bridge OF tho Mnyhower
as she steamed slowly down one column
Of the battleships and up the other. The
two columns extended $500 yards the
stips being anchored at Intervals OF 500
Yards AS the Mayaower passed each
shin in two columns the yards and rails
of each were manned by Jackies In white
duck, the marines were paraded and pre-
sented arms, the Presidents salute of
twenty-one guns was fired, the buglers
sounded n flourish, the drummers gave
four rufIles. the band played 'IIail, Co
.l,mhia', and the entiIe crew stood at
salute, AS the Mnyf1ower swept maj jesti-
cnilv past each ship the crew of the sa-
tlutinr vessel gave the President three
cheers as the commander-in-chief of the
army and navy OF the United States,
II1NCHEON ABOARD MAY'FLOWER, i
At.the conclusion OF the review Pres-
dent Roosevelt received on board the
NIavNower all the commanding officers
of the twenty-five vessels In the feet,
Ha received also tha British, German,
Rnss,on and Japanese naval attaches.
President Roosevelt entertained his guests
mud ali the commanding officers of the
f,aet at delightful luncheon on board
he Mayaower, during which toasts were
drink 10 the great powers and their SOW
ara,r,s and to the President, At the
oone,,,.,on of the luncheon the officers
retnrned to their ships At 1928 the
pSasiGent left tho Mayfower In a barge
for tha aagshlp Kearsarge. to return the
csi, ~ Rear-Adlmal Barker. The May
nnwer t,red Presidents salute as the
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