The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

welt in company with Secretary of the
Navy Moody. Admiral Dewey. Rear
Admiral TAYLOR, Rear Admiral Rodgers,
Captain BrOwnson. General Chaffee and
General Barry. stood the bridge OF
the auxiliary cruiser Mayfiower, as she
steamed slowly DOWN one column of the
warships and I'D the other. The two
columns extended twenty-five hundred
yards. the ships being anchored at IA
tervals of five hundred wards. AS the
Mayf1oWer passed each ship in two col
umns, the wards II rails of each were
manned by iackies in white ducks. the
marines We're Daraded and presented
arms. the presidents salute of twenty
one guns was fired. the buglerS sound
ed a flourish. the drummers gave FOUR
ruffIes. the band played Hail Column
bia." n the entire crew stood at sa-
lutte.
AS the M~avfower swept matesticaliy
past a ship the crew of the saluting
vessel gave the president three cheers
as the commander-in-chief of the army
and navy of the United States.
AT the conclusion of the review Pres
1dent roosevelt received on board the
MayfoWer all the commanding officers
of the twenty-five vessels in the fleet.
He received also the British, German,
russian and japanese nava attaches.
President Roosevelt entertained his
guests and all the commanding officers
of the fleet at a delightful luncheon on
board the Mayfiower. during which
toasts were drunk to he great power
and their sovereigns. and to the presi-
| dent.
At the conclusion of the luncheon the
of1cers returned to their ships. At 1928
the president left the Mayflower in a
barge for the flagship Kearsarge to re-
turn the call Of Rear Admiral Barker.
Ia Mayf1ower fired a presidents Sa-
L lutte. as the horOa clpa rod tha hin AC
the president went aboard the Kear-
sarge. his flag was broken out at the
main peak and every one of the twelve
saluting ships in the fleet fired a presi-
dents salute. After chatting with Ad-
miral Barker and casually inspecting
the kearsarge. the president before Wis
iting the other fiagships to return the
calls of the read admirals. addressed
the enlisted men and officers Of the
ship. When they had been drawn UP
on the deck he said:
In doing your work here. every bit
should be done with an eye toward the
day when upOn every m a from the ad-
miral to the lowest in rank may rest
the responsibility n duty as to Wheth-
er or not a new page of hon in Amer
lean history hall be turned. AS 1
passed the Olympia. 7 remembered her
grand victory of May l. 1898. which
made her name forever one OF reno~n
in our histC~~. But all aboard her.
from admira down to the newest en-
listed man. had been equipped for the
work by days and years of what must
have many ime irksome duty. In
! speaking TO all of YOU I want a chance
to say a word of special recognition to
the gun pointers. The shots that hit
are the shots that tell ley are what
make the navy prove itself equal to
any need. / am happy to say that the
American seamen ave never beer
found deficient in the fighting edge. the
first requisite of the fighting man. l
do not praise o for being brave: that
is expected. The coward is to be con-
demned rather than the brave man to
be praised. | expect every one to show
a perfect Willingness TO die rather than
to see the slightest stain put upon the
American flag. but in addition o must
know how to fight as we'll as know how
to die; then you will be what I be-
lieve you are. the most efficient fighting
force in the world"
When the president spoke of Admiral
Dewey, he turned toward him and
bowed. The admiral answered the bow.
The men INTERRUPTED to cheer first the
president and then the admiral. AT the
conclusion of the the band
played the Star Spangled Banner"
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 Car
DINA, Maine. Indiana. Michigan. Min
nesota and Washington, as we'll as from
Germany and Ireland. Norway and
Sweden.
The president was especially struck
with the large promotion of men from
the middle west.
On the Olympia he again was request
ed TO say a word to the enlisted men.
He said in substances:
Il ''Whathpr the service is rendered in
| the coming tower or in the gun-turrets
| or in the engine room. it matters not
| so long as the service itself is OF the
highest possible kind. This ship COM
| memorateS forever the name of Ad-
miral Dewey as the Hartford Comment
| CRATES that of Admiral Farragut. And
ask lou all as Americans. proud of
your country. from the admiral down
to the last enlisted landsman. or the
Youngest apprentice. to appreciate ankle
the high honor and heavy responsibility
of your POSITIONS
At the conclusion the men cheered
the president and then Admiral Dewey.
When the president went to the IAN
| kee where he met the landsmen in train
| ing. he was particularly interested in
the fact that all the crew consisted or
landsmen.
The president returned to the May
| flower at 2:45 and his flagship imme-
| diately fired a salute to Rear Admiral
Barker. commander or the fleet. The
Mayhower steamed down the sound Tor
a short distance and then lay TO Whlle
the fleet headed by the kearsarge, with
the destroyers at the rear of the line.
passed the Mayfiower in single column
| ~saIuting the president. This concluded
| the ceremonies. The fleet continued on
to Portland. Ne. and the Mayflower re-
| turned 10 OYSTER BaV. bringing the