Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-09-05
Presiden Reviews Mighty Fleet OF
Nations Warshlps.
FoRrY-FlVE VESSELS IN LINE
Magnificent Sight Witnessed by Thou.
cands from Fleet of 500 Boats-Na-
toms Chief Holds Reception on
Yacht Mayflower.

viSw of Sycamore Hill the president
of the United States reviewed Mon
day the greatest fleet OF American
warships ever assembled.
There was a ship of war for every
state, As in all. ranging in size from
! the magnificent sixteen thousand ton
Louisiana, just completed, to the fleet
little torpedo boat and the submarines
aud including one troop ship and col
Tiers. In three columns there
stretched along the sound twelve bat
tleships, four armored cruisers, four
protected cruisers, four monitors, six
destroyers, six torpedo boats, three
submarines, troop ship and five aux
iliaries.
In peace paint of spotless white.
wreathed in rainbows of flags, ship
rails, manned, CLOSE aboard" the
splendid fleet underwent the cere-
n' ny of inspection by the president
OF the United States.
President Highly Pleased.
AS the Mayfiower dropped her an
Choir at the head OF the fleet on the
completion of the review the president
| descended from the bridge, his face
! wleathed in smiles and enthusiastic
ally throwing his arms around the
shoulders of group of senators and
representatives, exclaimed:
ANY man who fails to be patriotic
ally inspired by such sight as this
is mighty poor American and every
American who has seen it ought TO be
a better American for IT,"
The sentiment was echoed enthusi-
asst cally by the group around the
president.
President Roosevelt had great
day II was his day throughout. In
going from the Wemlen 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
roughest maner by the unusually
heavy sea which the stiff wind
kicked up The moment he put his
foot on the deck of the Mayfower,
as 4 by pre-arranged signal, the rain
suddenly stopped and before the 81
gun salute which welcomed him had
been completed the sun was shining.
From that time until the review was
finished not cloud marred the spec
tccle. When the Mayflower anchored
a. it's conclusion, the clouds gathered
again. threatening rain, but the
weather soon cleared AMI remained
so during the remainder of the after
noon and evening.
Cruiser Butted Into Sand.
Not an incident occurred TO inter
fere with the carefully arranged pro-
gram The cruiser Dcs Moines,
which ran down from New York in
the morning, with the foreign naval
attaches and Congressional naval
committee on board, found herself
2 ntly resting in the sand in Cold
| Springs Harbor after safely transfer
ring her passengers TO the Mayfiower.
She foated again shortly after the
tide rose. but failed to take her place
at the head OF the feet, during the
review She was ready, however, TO
take her passengers back to New
York at its conclusion, having sus-
tanned no injuries.
The weather was too strenuous out
in the sound for the hundreds OF
smaller craft which undertook the
venture in the morning hours, and
considerable confusion resulted in the
| harbor entrance as these boats ran
fer shelter inside while others OF the
sightseeing fleet were going out. Sew.
eral collisions resulted and the tug
Margaret ran aground in the cove,
but only minor damage was sustained
| ia any instance.
Great Array Of Small Craft.
When the Mayfower reached the
head OF the column to begin the re-
view shortly after II o'clock the feet
was completely surrounded by fully
| 900 boats large enough 10 weather
the blow. and loaded with sight-seers
to their full capacity. The effect was
to set the avy in huge frame, and
, emphasize the grandeur Of the dis
play
The big white ships lay motionless
in the chopy sea, their massive steel
sides rising from the water like walls
! OF spotless white. Ship rails were
manned by bluejackets whose dark
uniforms were relieved by the Grim
son coats of the marine bands.
When the Mayflower reached the
he'd OF the three columns, tremen-
dous salute of 81 guns was fired in
unison by every ship. The official re-
| view began with this salute. The
graceful little flagship of the presi-
d. Mt took her course down the long
two mile column of battleships and
monitors forming the center column
az the formation. When she cleared
the Maine, the first battleship and the
flagship Rear Admiral Robley ID. Ev-
ars. commander-in-chief OF the squad
ron. the Maine sent forth another FL
pun salute IL was not two minutes
ltsfore the Mayfiower had reached
land cleared the stern OF the Missouri
ard she, too. saluted. II took just 2b