Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04
GREAT FLEET OFF
FOR OTHER LANDS
Men-o'-War Hoist Anchors and
Sail Away.
PRESIDENT Is A MASCOT
Sailors Think No Harm Can Come
While He Rules.
JACK TARS DO THEIR FINEST
Amid Scenes Riotous in Marine Beau
ty the Forty Ships Disband-Spec-
tacle of Matchless Splendor.
Sailors Think No Harm Can Come
While He Rules.
JACK TARS DO THEIR FINEST

F
Under skies of azure blue the
great fleet OF warships disbanded to-
day and sailed to their respective
stations. The sailors believe in
Roosevelt luck and think the Presi-
dent mascot.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
OYSTER BAY, N. Y, September 4.-The
big fleet Of forty-five warships which yes
terday was reviewed by President Roose-
welt from the bridge of the Mayflower got
under way at o'clock this morning. The
vessels will proceed to the different stations
to which they have been assigned. Every
man among the forty-five crews was happy,
for the review from beginning to end had
been a great success.
Roosevelt luck was the comment of the
sailors when as the first gun of the May
flowers salute to the President as he board
ed her sounded, the sun broke lightly
through the clouds. The jackies are all
convinced that the President is the best
sort of mascot that a fleet could have, and
that as long as he is chief
of the navy there is no foe that it need
fear
To see the dispatch with which the men
o'-war this morning hoisted anchors and
slipped cables would have done the Presi-
dent good Yesterday the seamen had no
chance to display their perfection of drill,
for all that they were required to do was
to man the rails when the Mayf1ower passed
along the triple lines.
The white hulls of most of the battleships
and cruisers and the little black bodies OF
the torpedo boats and torpedo-boat destroy.
ers soon disappeared from the view OF
those early risers who from the shore had
witnessed the ships departure.
The Maine, the flagship of Rear Admiral
Evans, did not leave until later In the day
she was busiiy coaling this morning from
one of the colliers.
Oyster Bay Quiet.
Oyster Bay, after the intense excitement
of yesterday, has settled back into its ac-
customed placidity. 1t was the biggest day
IN the towns history. President Roosevelt
IS expected to remain at Sycamore Hill
during the remainder of this month He will
return to Washington, if present plans are
adhere to, on October !.
1t may be many years before such col
lection of fighting machines is again as
sembled in American waters 1t Will be
long before the Asiatic squadron. for in
stance, will have another opportunity to
say how'd ye-do to the North Atlantic
squadron and Jack of the Maine have a
chance of sharing his quid with Jack Of the
Maryland; but the purpose of the review
has been accomplished. and every patriotic
American tingles with pride today-yes,
even the sluggish blood of those who
think we should have no navy at all quick
ems a little-in the thought that there are
such stanch warders at the gates. 1t Is
said everywhere that an increased respect
for this country will make itself felt in
foreign lands. and that the representatives
of navies of Europe who watched the brave
show yesterday cannot fail to bring to the
heads of their governments reports that Will
make them doubly wary of entering into
quarrel with nation OF such naval power.
That was what yesterdays pageant was
intended to show, and Furthermore, It was
q striking object lesson to those who re-
member a time barely ten years distant
when oily half dozen battleships con-
st:tuted the principal fighting strength Of
the American navy, and these were in for
eign waters dealing with Spain, while the
immense coast line Of the country would
have been easy for a strong fleet to prey
on.
Small Fleet Comparatively.
Beside the armada of yesterday, the fleet
which Admiral Dewey brought into New
York harbor after his return from Manila
bay pales into insign:ficance-and there
were some good fighters In that group, too
while the brave showing made by the
in 1893 to celebrate the opening IF the
worlds fair is entirely outclassed.
The s.xty-One naval vessels which stood
aligned on both sides of the watery avenues
of the sound off Oyster Bay represented
One-third of the total strength of the navy.
Three-fourths of the ships the President
admired have come off the ways since the
war with Spain, but he himself said. al
though they were new, they were ready
just as they were to go into action at a
moments notice.
Some of the famous fghters-the Olym-
pia which earned her laurels in the .attle
of Manila bay; the Oregon, which is re-
membered for her fine fighting qualities
and her famous ecord-breaking cruise
around the Horn from San Francisco to
the Caribbean; the cruisers Brooklyn and
New York, and other ships which New
Workers have come to know-were absent
Some of the navy had to be left on guard
but those which the crowd came out to
see were the most advanced types of war
ships, representing human ingenuity and
skill in its highest form.
Made Rapid Strides.
Since the Oregon and the first Maine
were built naval construction has made
rapid strides and the Maine Of today is
as far ahead of the Maine which went to
the bottom of Havana harbor as the new-
est and most powerful fighter, the Louis
lana, overshadows the Oregon.
Oyster Bay and Sycamore Hill were as
light as day last night. After the review
the darkness shut down on the waters, and
tue buff and white array was screened
from sight. The lights on the various YES
sells showed where they lay. and suddenly
a signal light flashed on the flagship Maine
then, as IL a magicians wand had touched
them, every battleship. every cruiser and
all the other vessels were bathed in white
fire.
The hills and all the broad expanse Of the
bay were suddenly revealed to view. A
white light shone from the top of Saga
more Hill. The yachts in the harbor added
to the Illumination, and the launches also.
darting here and there like will-o' the
wisps. 1t was a glimpse of fairyiand.
Mayhower's Second Trip.