Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-09-04
NAVAL FLEET
ILLUMINATED
Magnificent Naval Display on
MOOnIitSOund Off Oyster
Bay Last Night.
PLAY OF SEARCHLICHTS.
President Roosevelt Had Great and
Strenuous Day--It Was His Day
Throughout, He Being in Supreme
Command-Every Ship in the Re-
view Was Il Fighter-Hundreds of
Pleasure Craft Crowded the Scene.

N"Suit NIdit NEoNutu tIle oCtHe.
OYSTER BAY. n. Y, Sept. 4-On
the waters of Long Island sound within
view of Sycamore Hill the president of
the United States reviewed the great
est fleet of American warships ever as
sembled
There was a ship of war for every
state, forty-five in all, ranging in size
from the magnificent 10000 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 ana nve auXiliaries.
In peace paint of spotless 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 Mayflower 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 a group of senator's and repre-
sentatives, exclaimed, ANY man who
fails TO be patriotically inspired by
such n sight as this is Il mighty poor
American, and every American who
has seen + ought to be Il better Amer
lean for it :
The sentiment was echoed enthusias-
tically by the group around the presi-
dent.
"And you, gentlemen he said, nd
dressing the naval committee, "are re
sponsible for it, 1t is your handiwork,
and it has all been done within the past
ten years. Every one of these ships is
a fighter and ready to go into action Mt
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 lies our naval strength and
our superiority"
President Roosevelt had a great day.
1t was his day throughout. In going
from the w. Emlen Roosevelt pier to
the Mayflower 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
unusually heavy sea which the stiff
wind kicked up. The moment he put
his foot on the deck of the Mayflower,
as If 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 Il cloud married 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 Maytower
early in the morning until he left it 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 We're man.
ned with iackies when he stepped
aboard. -Four flOuriShcs and ruflles
were given by the buglers, and the
band played the national anthem. Sur
rounding the MaylloWer when the pres
ident came aboard was Il fleet Of sight
seeing craft Most conspicuous was
large tug from New York with a party
of newspaper men and photographers
aboard Across the wheelhouse had
been placed Il large muslin sign which
read. Pres Bot" The presidents eye
caught this sign ut once, and he clapped
his hands sn enjoyment.
Fine. fine" he shouted-"reform
spelling"
The crownng 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 aud monitor flash
ed forth in a glow Of light.
The outlines of the hulls, the masts,