Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-04-30

federate flag in 1852, to the huge mod
ern fighting machines typified by the
flower of the American navy gathered
in holiday assemblage /, is far cry.
Many of those who stood on the
shore and witnessed the naval pageant
in the roadstead, however, wildly re-
called the historic time when the wind.
rippled waters which form the setting
of this greatest international rendez-
vous of war vessels of recent years
were splashing with the shot and shell
of the first great battle of ironclad
ships.
President Reviews Warships.
President Roosevelt from the bridge
of the trim little yacht Mayfower,
whose decks were the meeting place
of the peace plenipotentiaries of Rus.
STA and Japan less than two years ago,
reviewed the great assemblage of flag.
drsped fighters. These warships were
gathered from the corners of the world
to make notable opening of the
jamestown exposition, commemorating
the three hundredth anniversary of the
first English settlement in America.
Steaming down the long column of
dark-hulled foreign ships the president
on the Mayflower was greeted by each
vessel in turn with a salute of 81 guns.
The Mayflower then turned down the
lane of American battleships and
cruisers and again the roar of saluting
cannon swept across the waters.
The new American navy was in it's
infancy ID years ago, when the bril-
liant international rendezvous of 1898
was held in Hampton roads. To-day
the magnificent Atlantic fleet, under
command of Rear Admiral Robley D..
Evans. presented picture of impress
sive fighting strength notable in the
naval annals of the world.
Give Foreign Ships Post Of Honor.
The foreign vessels were given the
positions of honor in line stretching
nearest and parallel to the shores of
the exposition grounds. browning and
formidable in their dark drab coloring,
with tunnels as black as the smoke
which poured from their tops, the
squadrons sent by Great Britain, by
Austria, by Germany, and the Argen-
tine republic loomed in deep shaded re-
lief against the dazzling background
of American vessels.
The white sides of the Yankee ships
glistened in the light rays reflected
from the water and their light buff SUI
perstructure and stacks lent harmon
ious setting to the many hued flags
floating from mastheads and peaks,
from fighting tops and flying trucks.
Suggest War Dress.
The foreign vessels were suggestive
OF the American ships during the days
of the war with Spain, when the ira
ditional and exclusive dressing of
white gave way to the somber gray
hue of war apparel.
American vessels at naval gather
ings abroad have always been an at
tractive center of interest because of
their graceful lines and clean-cut APP
pearance. Yesterday, assembled in the
full strength of home-protecting fleet,
lloy mdue an impression WHICH VIII
live long in the memory of those who
looked upon them.
The president, as commander-in-
chief, dotted his hat in acknowledge
ment of each thunderous salute which
marked the progress Of the review.
Thirty-six Nations Represented.
Not the least impressed of those who
witnessed this inaugural ceremony Of
the opening of the exposition were the
military and naval officers Of 81 of the
nations of the world. The ambassa-
doris and ministers of all these nations
were also among those who gazed upon
the beautiful naval show.
The foreign diplomats and officers
were on board the steamer Newport
News, which brought them down from
Washington in the night and which
was given position of vantage over
the hundreds of excursion steamers
and pleasure craft of every magma
BILE description which formed frame
about the anchorage ground of the as
sembled fleets.