The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-04
Reviews Fa5-FiVs Vessels in
Long Island Sound
SAYS THEY ARE W. SIC
Yesterdays Review Brought About
the Assembling of the Strongest
Fleet Ever Brought Togther
In American Waters.

water of Long Island sound within view
of Sycamore HILL the President of the
United States reviewed today the great
est fleet of American warships ever as
sembled There was a ship of war for
every state, forty-fve in all, ranging in
size from the magnificent 16,OOO-ton Louis
lana, just completed, to the fleet of lit
tie torpedo boats and the submarines, and
including one troopship and colliers. In
three columns there stretched along the
sound twelve battleships, four armored
cruisers, four protected cruisers, four
monitors, six destroyers. six torpedo
boats, three submarines, a troopship and
five auxiliaries.
In peace paint of spotless white.
wreathed in rainbows of flags, ship rails
manned 'close aboard" the splendid fleet
underwent the ceremony of inspection by
the President.
President Grows Enthusiastic.
As the Mayflower dropped anchor at
the head of the fleet on the completion
of the review, the President descended In
the bridges He smiled and enthusiastic
cally threw his arms around the shoulders
of a group of sailors and representatives,
exclaiming:
Amy man who fails to be patriotically
inspired by such sight as this. is a
mighty poor American, and every Ameri-
can who has seen it ought to be a better
American for it,
And you, gentlemen," he said. address,
ing the naval committee, "are responsible
for 1t. It is your handiwork, and it has
all be done within the past ten years.
Every one of these Is a fighter, and ready
to go into action at a moments notice
Greeted BY Salute Booms.
Forty-five of the most splendid types Of
fighting vessels afloat lay at anchor in
three long columns as the naval yacht
Mayflower, which just year ago was
written into history as the meeting ground
of the peace plenipotentiaries of Russia
and Japan, passed up and down the lanes,
the President, an appaluding spectator
on the bridge. The Mayflower's journey
was made amid a continuous boom of sa-
luting cannon, and gun after gun spoke
the navys honor to the commander-in-
chief of all Americas military force.
President Roosevelt had as his guests
on board the MayfoWer the secretary of
the navy and several other government
officials, members of the senate and
house committee on naval affairs and the
naval attaches of eight of the powers of
the world. There was something of an
object lesson in this gathering of repre-
sentative array of Americans, one-third of
the fighting forces being in the review.
Receives Commanding Officers.
When the parade of the Mayfower was
over the President had looked with cr-
tical eye at each of the flag dressed ves-
sells, his yatch came to anchor and he
received on board the commanding officer
of the fleet. Then followed a gala lun-
cheon at which the officers, the govern
ment officials, the attaches, senator's and
congressman were guests together with
a number of personal friends of the Pres
ident.
Thanking the war vessels which glisten-
ed in purest white under the direct rays
of the sun and against a low lying, storm
black clouds along the horizon was the
greatest fleet of private yachts, boats and
pleasure craft especially that has ever
been drawn together in sucr small COM
pass. Each of these was decorated with
signal flags from stem to stern and ad-
ded materially in the painting of a marine
spectacle unparalleled in the history of
the American people
This was the stirring scene which greet
steamed out from oyster Bay shortly
after II o'clock. 1t was just twenty
minutes past that hour when the review
ing yacht came within range of the
flagship Maine which stood at the head
of the center of the column of the fleet.
There came a flash of flame and a puff of
grey smoke from the starboard salut-
ing cannon of the flagship, which was
the signal for the other vessels to join in
an unanimous salute OF twenty-one guns.
It required twenty minutes for the May
flower to run down the first lane. Then
she put about and came up on the outer
edge of the most westerly column of the
ships. Reaching the head of the column
| again the Mayfiower turned once more
to the west and took tour outside the
torpedo boat line, coming eastward to
the Names position once more and then
cast anchor.
Visits Several Ships.
After luncheon the President visited
several ships of the fleet. When he re-
turned again to the Mayfiower the review
was practically at an end, although Mr.
Roosevelt and most of HIS guests remained
on board to witness the illumination Of
the fleet. When the President paid his
visits to the various vessels. the wind was
bowling down the sound in way to set
the higgins of all the vessels in the Won
derful assemblage singing a warning song
of the deep.
The Mayfiower's launch with her dis
| tinguished passenger plunged through
waves which were as high as any of the
boatmen of Oyster Bay and Cold Spring
| harbor have known for many days. The
heavy sea that was running had sent all
| small boats hurry pell-mell for the shelter
| of the cove, where they formed an ap-
parently unbroken barrier across the har-
| Dor entrance, completely blocking any
| possible retreat for the larger and stanch-
! er crafts which were Drawing wind and
| waves to keep in touch with every move
and picture of the review.
| Salt water in the breaking waves was
blown stingingly into the Presidents S
| launch, but he was hilarious and enjoyed
! the experience to the fullest. Despite the
| gale and the sea and the close quarters
| in which the pleasure boats maneuvered,
| NOT serious accident occurred during the
| morning. There were many collisions and
| humping matches between the small boats
/ in the harbor. but no serious damgae was
J