Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-03
TOday's Telegraphic News
The Naval Review.

Much to the disappointment OF the
thousands of spectators and partici pants
in the great naval spectacle day break
was accompanied by dovnpour of rain.
About three O'Clock this morning the
storm broke over the feet. It was &C.
companied by a display of lightning,
and roar of thunder. Though there
was some wind, no damage was reported
from the ships of the feet.
The rain ceased about six o'clock, and
though there was an occasional drizzle
from that time on until The hour set for
the start OF the show, the weather
prophets agreed that the worst OF the
storm was over and predicted sunshine
and plenty of it by noon
Oyster Bay, September 3.-President
Roosevelt today reviewed the largest
beet OF modern American warohips ever
assembled in United States waters. Of
the entrance of Oyster Fay, there were
drawn up for his inspection three lines
of battleships, ETC., representing the
flower of the American navy. Auxiliary
vessels we're present carrying reserves OF
7. 400 tons of coal, $500 tons OF pro-
visions, and 600, 900 gallons of water.
Every branch of the navy was represent
ed in the combined squadfons. The
cruisers ranged on the outside to do the
scouting, the monitors for coast defense,
the battleships to do lhe heavy work,
with torpedo boats and submarines to
back them up and to perform duty be-
tween the SHIPS and the coast and pro-
tect the supposed base ofsupplies where
the auxiliaries we're anchored.
There were forty vessels from big
bat,leships to tiny submarines, not
counting the five auxiliary ships; the
Secretary of the Nsvy's flagship the
Dolphin and the cruiser Des Moines
which carries the interested observers
from foreign countries. Upon the forty
ships are l, l7S guns, 8l2 officers, and
Is. 235 men The ships began arriv.
lug early Sunday morning aud took
up their designated positions with
intervals of $50 feet between each.
President Roosevelt was On board his
flagship, the MsyAower, at 1920 and
promptly at the SC, eduled time, l0:45,
that vessel started on her tour OF inspec-
ton. With The President were Secre'
tary of the Navy Bopaparte, Assistant
Secretary Newberry, his naval aide
Lieut. Commander Key, AID few es-
pecially invited friends. AS the May
flower approached the fleet it presented
beautiful sight. The vessels lay at
anchor in three coluruns stretching al
most as far as the eye could see. From
stem to stern vari-colored flags futtered
over each vessel giving them a gala
appearance. A pickle lue of ships cut
ter, each flying red flag and with crews
of man-o-wars' men surrounded the en-
tire feet to keep of the excursion steam
ers and yachts which were present in
numbers. AS soon as the May Hover
reached within signalling distance OF
the feet the Presidents flag was sud.
denly broken out from the top of her
mainmast, officially announcing his ar
rival. At this signs the six FOUNDER
guns from the batlleships and cruisers in
line began belchiug forth smoke and
fame 10 salute to the Chief This was
repeated 81 times from each vessel until
total of over 500 guns had been fired.
To this commotion the May flower re-
spouded by dipping her flag.
The first vessel passed by the Presi-
dent was the cruiser Des Moines. This
vessel had been especially assigned to
carry the foreign naval attaches who
wanted to attend the review. The Des
Moines also had on board members Of
the Senate and House naval committees.
For the first time ir the history Of the
American navy the feet to be reviewed
remained at anchor while the reviewing
officer, in this case the President Of the
United States, sailed by them on his ship
inspecting them on both sides.
Rear Admiral Evans's flagship, the
Maine, was at the head OF the central,
or main column. Passing the Maine on
her stsrbosrd quarter. the Maydower
pissed succ essively the battleships Maine,
Missouri. Kentucky, Kearsarge, Louisi-
ana, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and
Virginia and the monitors Puritan, Ne
vada, Florida and Arkansas. On her
port side were the torpedo boat destroy
ers Whipple, Worden, TruxtGn, Hop
kins, Lawrence, Macdonough, and the
torpedo boats Wilkes, Tingey, Rodgers,
Stockton, Blakely and belong. The
submarine torpedo boats Porpoise, Shark
aud the tender Nina we're anchored of
the starboard bows Of the Whipple. As
the stern of the Mayflower passed well
clear of the ssluting guns on esch of the
large vessels The President was given
his salute of 81 gums. All officers were
in full dress uniform and as the Pres-
dent passed each ship the sailors ranged
alongside with arms locked 10 rigid lines
to give him the naval honors. There
was continuous csnnonading of six.
Founders from the big ships as he passed
down the line.
At the end OF the three mi e run the
Mayfower rounded the stern OF the mon
itor Arkansas an at the western end OF
the line passed up On the port side, sue
cessively, OF the cruisers Denver, Cleve.
land, Tacoma, Minneapolis, the armored
cruisers Maryland, Colorado, PenDsyl.
vsnis, and West Virginia. and the bat
tleships, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and
Alabama. Passing then across the en-
tire front of the feet the Msyhower
steamed down the outside or starboard
side of the torpedo boats aud then up the
lane between the monitors, cruisers and
baItleships. passing the Maine on her