Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-17
GREAT NAVAL DISPLAY
President Reviews the North
Atlantic Fleet.
ON YACHT MAYFLOWER
FIRST INSTANCE OF SUCH A
FUNCTION.
The Combined Forces Made, Fine Exhi-
bition of the United States
Sea Power.
ON YACHT MAYFLOWER

OYSTER BAY. L. l.. August 17.-Twenty.
one warships drawn up in four parallel col
umns mile long and including some OF
the best fighting ships of the United States
navy, resting upon the CLASSY surface OF
Long Island Sound. composed the picture
which lay spread out before President
Roosevelt when he stepped out upon the
veranda of his home at Sycamore Hill early
today. Their brass work shining under the
slanting rays of the morning sun gave evi-
dence that every ship was spick and span
for this the first naval review at the ma
tion's summer capital. and probably the
first ever held for the exclusive purpose OF
presidential honors.
Commanded by Rear Admiral Barker and
three other naval officers of similar rank
the feet, comprising two squadrons each OF
two divisions besides a fotilla of torpedo
boat Gestroyers included a representative
of nearly every type of fighting craft, from
the ponderous Illinois to tie lean destroy
ers. Two parallel columns of battleships
and cruisers, headed by the kearsarge
Rear Admiral Barl.er's fla agship, lanked by
files of destroyers composing the North At
lantic fleet. covered the placid sound for
two miles off shore from picturesque
Lloyd's Neck and blockadng tie, mouth OF
Oyster Fay, presented splendid marine
cas- sea rover.
Sir Thomas Upton Present.
Clustered in the mouth Of the bay rested
the Presidents yacht Mayfower, Secretary
Moody's official craft the Dolphin and SiI
Thomas Lipton's beautiful steam yacht
Erin, surrounded by a graceful fleet OF
steam and sailing yachts gathered to wit
ness the imposing ceremony when the Pres
ident and the fleet officially exchange
greetings.
Fairer weather for the review could not
have been asked. When the President
boarded the Mayflower's launch at the J.
West Roosevelt landing the big white
shapes Of the war vessels between the
double lines of gray destroyers loomed out
of thin haze that hung over the sound.
Hardly ripple wrinkled the surface OF the
water. The Mayflower lay in the mouth
of Oyster bay. Near by was the Dolphin.
with Secretary Moody Admiral Dewey and
rear admiralS on board.
Before the President arrived Secretary
Moody, Admiral Dewey, Rear Admiral Tay-
lor chief of the bureau of navigation; Rear
Admiral Rodgers, commandant of the New
York navy yard; Captain Brownson, COM
mandant of the Naval Academy; General
Chaffee. Sir Thomas Upton, Colonel Shar-
an-Crawford of the Royal Ulster Yacht
Woodbury. Kane and Commodore Frederick
c. Bourne Of the New York Yacht Club
were taken on board the Mayfiower.
AS the President stepped on the deck of
the Mayflower her guns spoke the first
salute of the morning.
Arrangement of the Fighters.
Leaving her anchorage, the Dolphin
passed the Mayfower, saluting as she went
by Then the Mayfiower steamed down the
bay, followed by the Presidents yacht
Sylph, having guests of the President on
board. Slowly the Presidents flagship
moved out into the sound, where the battle
ships and cruisers lay in two parallel lines
lengthwise of the sound. with column of
destroyers fianking each line of large ships.
The right column was composed of two
divisions. the first consisting of the Kear-
sarge, Illinois and Alabama. under COM
mand Of Rear Admiral Barker; the second
comprising the Texas, Baltimore and Chi
cago commanded by Rear Admiral Sands.
The left column included Rear Admiral
Coghlan's flagship. the Olympia. and the
cruiser Topeka, composing the first divis-
ion, and the Yankee, Prairie, Panther and
Dolphin the second division, Rear Admiral
Wise commanding. Flanking the first col
umn and between it and the Long Island
shore was the first division of the destroyer
fiotilla-the Decatur, cambridge. Barry,
y
Lieut.. L. H. Chandler. Lying outside of all
the remainder of the fleet was a aanlSing
column of destroyers. including the Trux-
ton, Worden, Whipple, Stewart and Law
renee. commanded by Lieut.. II. K. Ben
ham.
Surrounding them was flotilla of steam
craft of all descriptions, numbering hun
dred vessels, and including splendid great
steam yachts. A string of code signals
fiuttered in the rigging of the Dolphin, an
answering string hung Imply from the
kearsarge's yard, and many flags wig
wagged from ship to ship of the big fleet
With the Presidents flag flying from her
main truck, the Mayfiower steamed slowly
off to the east end of the right column,
made sweeping curve and moved down
through the lane between the first column
of battle ships and cruisers and the first
column of destroyers. Lines of white ella d
sailors manned the rails, superstructure.
fighting tops and yards of the white fleet
and dotted the rails of the dark -huIled de-
stroyers. Scurrying launches cleared the
course of the Mayfower and her satellite,
the Sylph, as they entered the lane.
Presidential Salutes.
A 12-pound gun in the Kearsarge's sec
ondary battery spurted a little slash of
flame and smoke and the succession of
presidential salutes began. While the
smoke was drifting from the Kearsarge's
guns her band struck up Columbia" and
her sailors gave the President ringing
cheer as the Mayfower moved by. At a
speed of three miles an hour the Presidents g
flagship proceeded down the lane and, as
she approached, the guns Of each of the
ships in turn spoke in salute, their bands
and the cheers of the sailors joining in the
tribute. The guns Of the destroyers were
silent.
From the bridge of the Mayfower Presi-
dent Roosevelt surrounded by a group Of
admirals and guests, acknowledged the sa-
lutes. At the end of the lane the May
flower turned and passed down the lane
between the second column of cruisers
and second line of destroyers. One after
another the guns of the Dolphin Panther,
Prairie, Yankee, Topeka and Olympia sa-
1uted until, having encircled the feet and
completed the first part of the review, the
Mayfiower stopped at the head of the two
columns between the Kearsarge and the
Olympia. AS naval picture 1t was splen-
did and inspiring.
Launches put OF from the warships and
scurried over to the Mayflower. conveying
the commanders and flag officers to pay
their respects to the President.
This formality completed the President
boarded the Mayfiowers launch and was
conveyed to the Kearsarge. to return the
off nj s,on Evr,or fxr-<,