Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-27
GREATEST NAVAL PARADE
More American Bstslsships IN Hampton
Reads Than Bvtr Before Assembled
SHIPS OF FIVE NATIONS IN REVIEW
Great Britain, Germany, Austria and
Brasil send vessels to OPEN
inE of the Exposition
at jamestown.

NORFOLK, Va, April a.-The deep
throated guns OF FIVE great nations today
voiced a salute In unison to the American
nag and to the president of the United
States. The reverberating boom OF the
cannon went echoing over the waters OF
far-famed Hampton Roads, where nearly
half a century ago the Monitor and the
Merrimas met in a memorable conflict
which brought into being the armored
craft Of war From the little Yankee
cheese box set upon q raft" and the
rectangular mass of from which carried
the con federate nag in 1852 to the modern
fighting machines, typihed by the flower
OF the American navy, gathered N holiday
assemblage today, Is far cry. Yet many
Of those who stood on the shores and wit
messed the naval pageant in the roadstead
wildly recalled the historic time when
the wind-rippled waters which formed the
setting Of this greatest international rende-
vous Of war vessels Of recent years, we're
spiashed with the shot and shell of the
FIRST great battle OF steel-clad ships.
President Reviews Parade.
President Roosevelt, from the bridge OF
the trim little, yacht cruiser Maynower,
whose decks were the meeting place OF
the peace plenipotentisries of Russia and
Japan less thon two years ago reviewed
the great assemblaRe Of fag-drsped fight
ers, gathered from the corners OF the
world. to make a notable opening day OF
the jamestown TercentenniaI exposition,
commemorative the sOOth anniversary Of
the first English settlement in America.
steaming down the long column of dark
huled foreigners, the president was
greeted by each vessel in turn with a
salute OF twenty-one guns. The May
flower then turned down the lane OF Amer
lean battleshlps and cruisers and again
the roar of salutinR cannons swept across
the waters. The new American navy was
in it's infancy fourteen years ago when
the international rendezvous of 1893 was
held in Hampton Roads. Today the
magnificent Atlantic feet under command
OF Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans. pre-
scented a picture OF impressive lighting
strength notable in the naval annals Of
the world.
The foreign vessels were given the posi-
lions OF honor in line stretching nearest
and parallel to the shores of the EXPOSE
ton grounds. browning and formidable in
their dark drab coioring. with tunnels as
black as the smoke which poured from
their tops, the squadrons sent by Great
Britain, by Austria, by Germany and the
Argentine Republic, doomed in deep-shaded
relief against the dazzling background OF
American vessels, whose glistenlng white
sides sparlSled in the light rays reflected
from the water. and whose light bun
superstructure and stacks lent a har-
monious setting to the many hued flags
floating from mastheads and peaks, from
fighting tops and flying trucks. The for
eign vessels were suggestive OF the Amer
lean ships during the days Of the war
with Spain. when the traditional and ex-
elusive dressing OF white gave way to
the somber gray hue of war apparel.
American Ships Impressive.
American vessels at naval gatherings
abroad have always been an attractive
center OF interest because OF their grace
full lines and clean cut appearance. Today
assembled In the full strength OF a home
protecting fleet. they made an impression
which will live long in the memory Of
those who looked. with the president, as
commander-in-chief, dofed his hat in
acknowledgment OF each thunderous salute
which marked the progress OF the review.
Not the least impressed OF those who
witnessed this inaugural ceremony Of the
opening OF the exposition were the mill
seven OF the nations Of the world The
ambassadors and ministers OF all these ma
lions were also among those who gazed
upon the beautiful naval show. The for
eign dipiomatists and officers were aboard
the steamer Newport News, which
brought them down from WASHINGTON last
night, and which gave them a position
OF vantage over the hundreds OF excursion
steamers and pleasure craft OF every
imaginable description. which formed
frame about the anchorage ground OF
the assembled fleets. None of the ex-
cursion or pleasure craft were allowed to
cruise between the war vessels and the
shore, thus insuring 10 the excursionists
10 the exposition grounds a view making
a picture never before witnessed-pictured
almost as In miniature several thousands
OF yards away In the blue waters OF the
roadstead.
Strongest Column of BattIeships,
Back OF the first line OF foreign vessels
was ranged the mishtiest column OF Aner-
lean battleshiDs the history OF the nation
has ever known. Stretching away IN a
curving line up the broad channelway
from the government pier OF Old Point
Comfort, sixteen mighty fortresses OF the
sea, wide-hulled, squat and heavy, the
American naval backbone, httingly formed
the center Of the fleet arranged for the
days review In a third line-and all but
hidden from the shore by the bulk Of the
heavy battleships-were the cruisers and
specter-like torpedo craft attached 90 the
American squarons. Clustered far in shore
toward the exposition water front, were
the several naval vessels which have been
assigned as station ships and will remain
here until the close OF the fair. the last
of November.
There were thirty-eight American ships
in today's review, The foreign ships num-
bered twelve typical modern fighting craft
and furnished a picturesque and striking
contrast as between the foreign-built
cruiser and the products OF American ship
and navy yards.
All OF the vessels OF the combined feet
were dressed" in the huttering hags OF
the nations and the brilliant-hued pennants
and bits of bunting which form the inter
national signal code During the salutes
to the president the white puffs Of powder
smoke hoated away like tiny hecks OF
summer clouds amid the huttering fags
OF the decorated ships, the effect being one
Of unexDected beauty