The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-08-19
REVIEWS FLEET
Nations Head Inspects North
Atlantic Squadron.

Nations Head lnSpectS North
Atlantic Squadron.
TWENTY-FIVE VESSELS IN LINE.
Imposing Naval Spectacle Takes Place
Off Oyster Bay-Warships Present
Magnificent sisht-Torpedo Boat
Destroyers in Collision.
Oyster Bay N. Y, Aug. 18.-For the
first time in the history of the country
the president of the United States re-
viewed and inspected, in time of
peace, great fleet of United States
Marships. The ceremony was mag
uifcent and impressive naval specta-
Gle. It was unmarried by the slightest
mishap until just at its conclusion,
when the torpedo boat destroyer Barry
rammed the destroyer Decatur, for
tunately. however, doing little dam
age. The incident was exciting. 1t
occurred just at the moment when the
president was receiving congratula-
tions upon the success of the maneuv-
ers. The first squadron of destroyers,
consisting of the Decatur. Bainbridge,
Barry, Dale and Chauncey, all under
command of Lieutenant L. H. Chand-
Jer, was approaching the Mayfower at
full speed. The vessels were in close
formation. Orders were signalled
from the Decatur to the other vessels
to form wedge. In executing the or
ders, the Decatur swung across the
bow of the Barry An instant later
the Barry rammed her on the star
board side. AS the ships were run
ming at speed of twenty knots the
blow was tremendous. The Decatur
listed sharply to port and seemed to
be in serious distress. From the May
flower she appeared to be sinking.
The Mayfower's boats were manned
Instantly, but were not lowered, as
the Decatur was seen to right her
self III few minutes she hoisted a
signal Of mo serious damage" Later
she steamed alongside the Mayfower
and Lieutenant Chandler reported that
while his ship had received a bad
bump on the starboard quarter, she
was not materially damaged. The
Barry, which had struck the Decatur
a glancing blow, had her bow crumpled
by the collision, but she was not In
jured otherwise. The accident put
q sudden stop to the maneuvers of the
destroyers' squadron.
President Roosevelt, who was in
tently watching the squadron of de-
stroyers when the accident occurred,
remarked that such accidents, espe-
cially to destroyers, were likely to oc-
cur 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 efficiency would deteriorate
materially. Both the president and
, Mrs Roosevelt noted the accident
with great calmness, Notwithstanding
the fact that their son, Kermit, was on
board the Decatur at the time of the
collision.
President Passes Down Line.
The review occurred on Long Isl
and sound, two miles and half of
the entrance to Oyster bay. President
Roosevelt, in company with Secretary
of the Navy Moody Admiral Dewey
Rear Admiral Rodgers, Captain Brown
son, General Chaffee and General Bar
ry stood on the bridge OF the auxil
iary cruiser Mayflower as she steamed
slowly down one column of the war
ships and up the other. The two col
umns extended twenty-five hundred
yards, the ships being anchored at in
tervals of 800 yards. AS the Mayflowel
passed each ship in the two columns
the yards and rail Of each were
manned by jackies in white duck, the
marines were paraded and presented
arms, the presidential salute of twenty
one guns was fired, the buglers sound
/. ed flourish, the drummers gave foul
ruffles, the band played Hail Colum
bia" and the entire GREY stood at sa
Lutte
AS the Mayflower swept majesticall!
y past each ship, the crew of the salut
ing vessel gave the president thre'
cheers as the commander-in-chief o
the army and navy of the United
States.
AT the conclusion of the review Presi
dent Roosevelt received on board tn
Mayfower Rear Admiral Albert S. Bal
ker. commander-in-chiefo of the Norl
Atlantic fleet; Rear Admiral James
4 Sands, commander of the Caribbean
= squadron; Rear Admiral Joseph f
n Coghlan. commanding the coast squad
E Tcn. and Rear Admiral William {
IS N'ise. commanding the training squad
sN ron. He also received the captain
5 and commanding officers of the twer
q ty-two vessels in the fleet He re
g. received also the naval attaches t
the legations of four of the great pow
~. Captain Dechair of the Britis