Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-04
A FLEET LLUMINED
Magnificent Naval Display on
 Moonlit Sound.
EVERY SHIP IN REVIEW 1 FIGHTER

LvEAl OulI IN AEvIEW CIuu lEn
 President RooseveltHaa . Great and
 Strenuous Day.-It Was His Day
 Throughout, Hs Dsing Tn
 Supreme Command. l OYSTER BAY, N. Y, Sept. 4.-On
 the waters of Long Island sound within
 view of Sagnmore Hill tho president of
 the United States reviewed the great
 est fleet of American warships ever as
 sembled.
 There was ship of war for every
 state, forty-flve in all, ranging in size
 from the magnificent 18OO0 ton Lou
 isiana, just completed, to the fleet little
 torpedo boat and the submarines and including one troopship and colliers. In three columns there stretched along
 the sound twelve battleships, four arm
 ored cruisers. four protected cruisers,
 four monitors, six destroyers. six tor pedo boats, three submarines, troop
 ship and tive auxilIaries.
 In peace paint of spotlcss white,
 wreathed in rainbows of flags, ship
 rails manned ''close aboard" the splen- did fleet underwent the ceremony of inspection by the president of the Unit ed States.
 As the May1ower dropped her an chor at the head of the fleet on the completion of the review the president descended from the bridge, his face wreathed in smiles and enthusiastical- ly throwing his arms around the shoul- ders of group of senators and repre- sentatlves, exclaimed, Any man who fails to be periodically inspired by such n sight as this Is mighty poor American, and every American who has seen 1t ought to be . better Amer ican for it."
 The sentiment was echoed enthusias- tlcally by the group around the presi- dent.
 And you, gentlemen" he said, ad- dressing the naval committee. 'are re- sponslble for 1t. It Is your handiwork, and 1t has all been done within the past ten years. Every one of these ships is fighter and ready to go Into action at a. moments notice. Again you have shown your wisdom in the appropria- tions for the target practice, for there is where the American navy excels Our men can shoot and shoot straight, and therein Hes our naval strength and our superiority"
 President Roosevelt had great day. It was his day throughout. In going from the W. Emlen Roosevelt pier to the MayHower in an open launch in the morning he was drenched by rain and spray. and the little launch was tossed about In the toughest manner by the rlihsually heavy sea which the stiff wind kicked up. The moment he put his foot on the deck' of tho Mayfiower, as if by preArransed signal, the rain suddenly stopped, and before the twen- ty-one gun salute which welcomed him had been completed the sun was shin- ing. From that time until the review was finished not cloud marred the spectacle. When the Mayfower an- chored at It's conclusion the clouds gath cred again, threatening rain, but the weather soon cleared and remained so during the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Not an incident occurred to interfere with the carefully arranged programme.
 From the moment President Roose- welt reached the deck of the Mayfower early In the morning until he left 1t for Sagamore Hill late at night he receiv- ed the exact attention prescribed for the commander in chief of the navy. The sides of the Maynower were man. ned with tackles when he stepped aboard. Four flourishes and ruffles were given by the buglers, and the band played the national anthem. Sur rounding the Mayfiower when the pres | ident came aboard was a fleet of sight seeing craft. Most conspicuous was a large tug from New York with party | of newspaper men and photographers | aboard. Across the wheelhouse had been placed large muslin sign which read. "Pres Bot" The presidents eye caught this sign at once. and he clapped his hands in enjoyment
 "Fine. fine" he shouted-'reform spellIngr'
 The crowning feature of the naval review was the illumination of the ships at night At signal from the Maine precisely at eight bells every battleship. cruiser and monitor fash cd forth in a glow of light.
 The outlines of the hulls, the masts, the stacks fighting tops and coming towers silhouetfed themselves in fire ,n the black horizon. The full moon had just come up over sagamore Hill. the harbor twinkled with the lights of many pleasure craft. and outside In the sound stretched the long line of blazing phantom ships.
 Al the presidents residence on Saga more HIll burned one bright light se; high up. where it could be seen from all directions. Then the powerful of the fleet began to look st each other and at the sur shore line and hills. throw Ing endless shafts of white light through the air.
 The view of the assembled squad rons irlumi,ed sn the moonlight vas ,ne of the most T7xEpiscent naval dis