The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-09-04
A FLEET lLLUNISEG
Magnificent Naval Display on
Moonlit Sound.
EVERY SHIP IN REVIEW A FIGHTER
President Roosevelt Had n Great nnd
strenuous Dhy-it Was Ills nay
Throughout, lie Heinz Ia
Supreme Command.

the waters Of Long Island sound within
view OF Sycamore Hin the president Of
the United States reviewed the great
est feet OF American warships ever as
sembled.
There was ship OF war FOR every
state forty-nye In all, ranging In size
from the magnificent 10000 ton Lou
isana, Just completed, 10 the 1eet little
torpedo boat aud the submarines and
Including one troopshlp and colliers.
In three columns there stretched along
the sound twelve battleshlps. four arm
ored cruisers, four protected cruisers,
four monitors. six destroyers, six tor
pedo boats, three submarines, troop
ship aud Ave auXlllarles.
In peace paint Of spotless white
wreathed In ralnbows OF flags, ship
rails manned CLOSE aboard" the splcn.
did fleet underwent the ceremony of
inspection by the president Of the Unit
cd States.
As the May1ower dropped her an
Choir mt the head Of the fleet on the
completion OF the review the president
descended from the bridge. his face
wreathed In smiles and. enthusIastlcal.
ly throwing his arms around the Shout
ders OF a group OF senators ana repre-
sentntlves. exclaimed. ANY man who
fails 10 bee periodically inspired by
such sight as this Is a mighty poor
American, and every American who
has seen II ought TO be better Amer
lean for H."
The sentiment was echoed enthusiasts
tlcally by the group around the presi-
dent.
and you. gentlemen" he said, adj
dressing the naval committee. "are re
sponsble for II. II Is your handiwork.
and II has all been done within the past
ten years. Every one Of these ships is
a fighter and ready To go into action az
a moments notice. Again you have
shown your wisdom In the appropria-
lions for the target practice, for there
Is where the American navy eXcels.
Our men can shoot aud shoot straight.
and therein lies our naval strength aud
our superiority"
President Roosevelt had great day.
II was his day throughout In going
from the w. Emlen Roosevelt pier TO
the Mayfiower 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 10y the
unusually heavy sea which the stlff
wind kicked up. The moment he put
his foot on the deck of the Mayhower,
as II by prearranged signal, the rain
suddenly stopped. and before the TWEEN.
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 Mayflower an
chored at its 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 il for
Sycamore Hill late at night he receiv-
ed the exact attention prescribed for
the commander in chief OF the navy.
The sides of the Mayhower were man
ned with jackics when he stepped
aboard. Four hourlshes and ruflles
were given by the buglers. and the
| band played the national anthem. Sur
rounding the MayflOwer when the pres
ident came aboard was n feet Of sight
seeing craft. Most conspicuous was n
large tug from New York with a 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.
Zine, fine" he shouted-'reform
spelllngv
The browning 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 flash
ed forth in II glow of light
The outlines of the hulls, the masts
the stacks, fighting tops and coming
towers sihouetted themselves in fire
on the black horizon. The full moon
had just come up over Sycamore HILL
the harbor twinkled with the lights of
many pleasure craft, and outside in
the sound stretched the long line of
blazing phantom ships.
At the presidents residence on Saga
more Hill burned one bright light SET
high up, where it could be seen from
all directions. Then the powerful
searchlIghts of the fleet began to
look at each other and at the sur
rounding shore line and hills, throw
ing endless shafts of white light
through the air.
The view of the assembled squad
rons illumined in the moonlight was
one of the most magnificent naval dis
plays ever witnessed.