The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-18
REVIEW IS MARRIED
nv COLLISION OF DESTROYERs AT
END OF MANEUVERS.
BARRY RAMMED DECATUR
WHILE EACH WAS GOING AT
TWENTY-MILE AN HOUR CLIP.

while Making Wedge Formation.
BIoVv Was OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AnDenred to BE Sinking-May-
AoweIs Boats Manned but Not
Lowered as Decatur Righted It
.elf-Decatur's Plates Denied and
Bsrry's Bow CrumpIed-K ermft
Roosevelt on Decatur at Time of
Accident.
oyster Bay, Aug. 17.-For the first
time in the history of the country the
President of the United States to-day
reviewed and inspected, in time of
pesce. a great feet of United States
warships.
The ceremony was a magnificent and
Impressive naval spectacle. 1t was
unmarried by the slightest rAishap I'M
Ill lust at it's conclusion, when the tor
pcdo boat destroyer Barry rammed
the destroyer Decatur, fortunately,
however, doing little damage.
The incident was exciting. 1t oc-
CURED just at the moment when the
President was receiving congratula-
tons upon the success of the man
euvers.
The first squadron of destroyers,
consisting of the Decatur, cambridge,
Barry Dale and Chauncey, all under
command of Lieut.. L. H. Chandler,
was approaching the Mayf1ower at full
speed. The vessels were in close for
nation.
Rammed by Barry.
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 tremen-
dous. The Decatur listed sharply to
port and seemed to be in serious dis
tress. From the Mayhower she APP
peared to be. sinking.
The Mayflower's boats were manned
instantly, but were not lowered, as the
Decatur was seen to right herself. In
a few minutes she hoisted a signal of
NO serious damage" Later she
steamed alongside the Mayfower and
Lieut. Chandler reported that while
his ship had received a bad bump on
the starboard quarter, she was not
materially damaged.
The injury was plainly evident from
the deck of the Mayhower. She had
been struck about half way between
her stern and .InidshiD and large
dent had been made IN her plates. The
starboard rail was damaged, but 9TH
erwise the vessel was intact. The Bar
ry, which had struck the Decatur a
gancing blow. had her bow crumpled
by the collision, but she was not In
jured otherwise.
The accident put a sudden stop to
the maneuvers of the destroyer squad
ron.
Ordered to Navy Yard.
Admiral Dewey ordered Lieut.. Chan
dler to proceed with the five vessels
to the Brooklyn navy yard. where such
repairs as may be necessary could be
made quickly. After the damage has
been repaired the squadron will rejoin
the fleet and continue the summer ma
neuVers
President Roosevelt, who was intent
ly watching the squadron of destroy
ers when the accident occurred, re-
marked that such accidents, especially
to destroyers, were likely to occur at
any time.
In the execution of war maneuvers
some chances, he said, must be taken
and if the time ever should come when
the navy was afraid of scratching off
the paint of a vessel it's deficiency
would deteriorate materially.
Kermit Roosevelt Aboard.
Both the President and Mrs. Roose-
Welt noted the accident with great
calmness, Notwithstanding the fact that
their son Kermit, was on board the De-
catur at the time of the collision. He
was standing beside Lieut.. Chandler
when the vessel ran alongside the May
flower to report.
The review took place off Long Is
land, two and a half miles off the en-
trance to Oyster Bay. President Roose-
NVlNs III company Win OeCIcldIy VI thC
Navy Moody, Admiral Dewey, Rear
Admiral Taylor, Rear Admiral Rodgers,
Capt. Brownson, Gen. Chaffee and Gen.
Barry, stood on the bridge of the aux
mary cruiser Mayflower as she steamed
slowly down one column of the war
SHIPS and up the other.
The two columns extended twenty
nFe hundred yards the ships being an
chored at intervals of 500 Yards As
me Mayhower passed each ship, in two
Columns the yards and rails of eac
were manned by Jackies in white
uucks, the marines were oaraded and
presented arms. the Presidents salute
pl tWenty-one guns was fred, the bug
.eIs sounded a flourish the drummers
eSaIe four ruffies, the band played Hail
oolunbia," and the entire crew stood
at salute.
Cheered the President.
AS the Mayhower swept majestical-
past each ship the crew of the
tIaIullng vessel gave the President
'ee cheers as the COMMUNICATIVE chief
o.. me army and navy of the United
~ the conclusion of the review,
'esident Roosevelt received on board
a. Mayhower all the commanding Of
IT'S or the twenty-five vessels in the
C He received also, the British,
att,aSah, Russia and Japanese naval
Iresident Roosevelt entertained his
Se. and all the commanding Off
az OF the feet at delightful lunch
vb,s on beard the Mayfsower., during
poassts were drunk 70 the great