The San Francisco call., 1906-09-04
Mighty Atlantic Fleet
Reviewed by President

ter II o'clock. 1t was but a few min
utes past the hour when the reviewing
yacht came within range of the flag
ship Maine. which stood at the head OF
the center column of the feet. There
came a flash of flame and puff Of
gray smoke from the starboard salut-
ing cannon of the flagship which was
the signal for the other vessels to join
in a unanimous salute Of twenty-on
guns. 1t required twenty minutes for
the Mayf1ower 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 Reach
Ing the head of the column again the
Mayhower turned once more to the
west and took tour outside the tor
pedo- boat line, came eastward to the
Names position once more, and then
cast anchor.
After luncheon the President visited
several ships OF the feet, When he
returned again to the Mayfiower the
review was practically at an end.
though Mr. Roosevelt and most OF his
guests remained on board to witness
the illumination of the feet.
PRESIDENT VISITS SHIPS.
When President Roosevelt paid his
visits to the various vessels the wind
was bowling down the sound in a way
to set the riggings of all the vessels
in wonderful assemblage singing a
warning song of the deep. The May
flowers launch plunged waves which
were as high as any of the boatmen of
Oyster Bay harbor have known for
many days. The heavy sea that was
running had sent all small boats hur-
rying pellmeIl for the shelter of the
cove Salt water from the high waves
was blown stingingiy into the Presi-
dents launch, but he was hilarious
and enjoyed the experience to the
fullest.
1t was the United States Atlantic
feet under command of Rear Admiral
Robley D. Evans that was inspected
by President Roosevelt and the nation.
The three long columns lay with
their head just mile west OF the ex-
treme point of Lloyd's Neck and three
miles directly north Of Sycamore Hill
through the harbor entrance OF Oyster
Bay. With intervals between columns
and ships of $50 yards, they stretched
along the Sound toward New York for
more than two miles.
SHIPS IN THREE LINES.
The fleet consisted of three squad
rons, or two divisions each, two tor
pedo boat f1otillas submarines troop
ship and five auxiliaries. The center
column represented the heaviest ton
mage and fighting capacity of the fleet.
This column was headed by the Maine,
the flagship of Admiral Evans. Di-
rectly astern was the sister ship Mis-
souri, of 1850 tons, then the two
11,520-ton battleships Kentucky and
Kearsarge next the 16.000-ton Louisi-
ana. just completed, which the navy
fondly calls the 'mosv modern battle
ship succeeded by the 14,94S-ton
Rhode Island, New Jersey and Virginia.
The column was completed by the four
monitors, Puritan, Nevada, Florida
and Arkansas.
The outside column included the
cruisers Denver, Cleveland. Tacoma,
Minneapolis, Maryland. Colorado. Penn
sylvania and West Virginia. and the
battleships Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and
Alabama The inside column was COM
posed entirely OF the two torpedo boat
f1olil1as. the Whipple, Worden. Truxton,
Hopkins, Lawrence, Macdonough
Wilkes. Lingey, Rogers. Stockton
Blakeley and De Long.