Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-08-21
FOR FIRST TIME
Great Fleet of American Warships
Inspected by President
DURING THE TIME OF PEACE
Torpedo Boat Destroyers Collided-No
Serious Damage Done-Maenificen
Ceremony Of the Coast at Oyster
Bay.

Oyster Bay. Aug. 1S-Tor the first
time in the history of the country the
president of the United States Monday
reviewed and inspected, in time Of
,eace, a great fleet of United States
alships. The ceremony was a mag
nifcent and impressive naval specta.
Gle. 1t was unmarried by the slightest
nishap until just at its conclusion,
when the torpedo boat destroyer Barry
iammed the destroyer Decatur, for
tunately. however, doing little dam.
age.
Orders were signalled from the De-
catur to the other vessels to form
wedge. In executing the orders the
Decatur swung across the bow OF the
Barry. An instant later the Barry
rammed her on the starboard side. AS
the ships were running at a speed Of
twenty knots, the blow was ire
mendous. The Decatur listed sharply
10 port and seemed to be in serious
distress. In few minutes, however,
she hoisted a signal of mo serious
damage"
Dewey Was Present.
The review occurred on Long Island
Sound. two miles and a half off the
entrance to oyster Bay. President
Roosevelt. in company with Secretary
of the Navy Moody, Admiral Dewey,
Rear Admiral Taylor, Rear Admiral
Rodgers, Captain Brownson, General
Chaffee and General Barry, stood on
the bridge Of the auxiliary cruiser
Mayflower as she steamed slowly down
one column of the warships and up the |
other. The two columns extended |
500 yards, the ships being anchored |
ct intervals of 500 yards AS the May |
flower passed each ship in the two |
columns the yards and rails of each |
ere manned by tackles in white duck.
The marines were paraded and present
ed arms, the presidents salute OF
guns was fred, the buglers
sounded a flourish, the drummers gave
four RULES, the band played Hail
Columbia" and the entire crew stood
at salute. AS the Mayhower swept
past each ship the crew
or hte saluting vessel gave the presi-
dent three cheers as the commander
in-chief. of the army and navy of the
United States.
At the conclusion OF the review
President Roosevelt received on board
the Mayfiower Rear Admiral Albert s.
Barker, commander-in-chief Of the
North Atlantic fleet; Rear Admiral
James A. Sands, commander Of the
Caribbean squadron; Rear Admiral Jo-
seph b. Coghlan, commanding the
coast squadron, and Rear Admiral w.
c. Wise. commanding the trading
squadron. He also received the cap
tains and commanding officers OF the
vessels in the fleet. He received also
he naval attaches TO the legations Of
our Of the great powers, Captain De-
chair OF the British embassy, Captain
Edwin Sthaefer Of the German embas-
". Commando w. c. Boutakoff OF the
Russian embassy and eut-Comman-
Ter Issam Takeshika Of the Japanese ,
egation.
Among the other guests OF the ures.
dent on board the Mayflower were AS.
istant Secretary OF War Sanger. Sir
Thomas Upton, G.. Oliver Iselin. But. !
er Duncan. Commodore Bourne of the
Hew York Yacht club, Colonel Shar. /.
a representative Of the
loyal Ulster Yacht club, and Emlen
Roosevelt
President Roosevelt entertained his
uests and all the commanding officers
4 the fleet at a delightful luncheon on
oard the Mayiower.
President Gives a Toast.
During the luncheon the president =
ose and said: .
I'VE have with us today representa-. =
ives OF the great powers-Great Brit =
in, Germany. Russia and japan.
SIX you to drink to those great powers
nd to their sovereigns."