Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-04
LARGEST FLEET IN AMERICA
President Reviews More wsrships Than
Ever Before Assembled OF Coast.
FOREIGN NAVAL ATTACHES ARE PRESENT
ships of All sires and Character Pres
ent when President Passes
Through Fleet on the
Msynower.

OYSTER BAY. n Y. Sept. s-Under
skies that broke brilliantly blue before
whistling westerly gale which swept down
Long Island sound and blew out TO sea
the sullen clouds and temptuous rain.
which this morning threatened 10 i'm
measurably mar the spectacle. President
Roosevelt. today. within haiIing distance Of
his summer home reviewed the most mag
ni1cent naval feet ever assembled under
the American nag. Forty-five OF the most
splendid types OF fghting vessels afioat lay
at anchor in three long columns as the
yacht Mayfower which Just a year ago
was written into history az the meeting
ground of the peace plenipotentiaries of
Russia and Japan, passed up and down the
lanes. the president. an applauding specta-
tor. on the bridge. The Mayfiower's journey
was made amid continuous boom of
saiuting cannons, and gun after gun spoke
the navy's honor to the commander-in-chlef
of all Americas military forces.
OmciaI Quests Present.
President Roosevelt has as guests on
board the Mayhower. the secretary of the
navy and several government oficials,
senate and house committees on naval af-
fairs and the naval attaches OF eight of the
powers of the world. There was some
thing Of an object lesson in this gathering
Of a representative array of the men Of the
navy.
| when the parade OF the Maynower was
over and the president had looked with
critical eye at each of the hag-dressed
vessels his yacht came to anchor and he
received on board the commanding officers
of the fleet. Then followed a gala luncheon
at which the oficers. the government Of
fcials, the attaches, senator's and congress
| men were guests, together with number
Of the personal friends of the president.
{ Many Yachts Present.
| F1anking the war vessels, which glis-
tened in purest white under the direct rays
of the sun, and against a low lying back
ground OF storm-black clouds along the
horizon, was the greatest feet of private
yachA small boats and pleasure craft
probably that has even been drawn to-
gether in such a. small compass. Each OF
these was decked with signal flags from
stem to stern and added materially in
the painting Of a marine spectacle un-
paralleled in the history of the American
people This was the stirring scene which
| greeted the president as the Mayhower
steamed out from Oyster bay shortly after
II o'clock. 1t was just twenty minutes past
that hour when the reviewing yacht came
within range of the flagship Maine. which
stood at the center column of the fleet
Then came flash of fame and a pun
| of gray smoke from the starboard sa-
luting cannon OF the flagship. which was
the signal for the other vessels to joir
] in unanimous salute Of twenty-one guns
II required twenty Jninutes for the May.
flower to run. down the first lane. It put
about and came up on the outer edge OF
the westerly column Of the ships. Reach.
| ing the head of the column again the
! Mayfower turned once more to the west
and took tour outside the torpedo boat
line. coming eastward to the Names DO.
sition once more. and then cast anchor.
Review at an End.
I After luncheon the president visited sew
eral ships of the fleet. When he returned
4 again TO the Mayfower the review was
practically at an end. although Mr.. Roose
welt and most OF his guests remained or
board to witness the illumination OF tn,
fleet which occurs at s o'clock tonight.
When President Roosevelt paid his visit
to the various vessels the wind was howl
ing down the sound in way to set tn,
rigging Of all the vessels in the wonderful
assemblage singing a warning song o
the deep. The Maynower's launch with 81
distinguished passenger plunged through
the waves, which were as high as any o
the boatmen Of Oyster bay and Cold Sprin,
harbor have known for many days tn,
heavy sea that was running had sent al
small boats hurrying pell nell for tn,
shelter OF the cove where they formed al
apparently unbroken barrier across the har
Dor entrance. completely blocking any pos
sibIe retreat for the larger and stsunche
craft which were braving the wind an,
waves TO keep in touch with every NOV,
and picture OF the review.
Salt water from the breaking waves wa
blown stingingly into the PRESIDENT
launch. but he was hilarious and enjoye.
the experience 10 the fullest