Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-05-14
in San FRAN
CISCO BAY.
The Greatest Naval Review
Ever Seen in Amefi-
can Waters.
The Center of Attraction was the Six
teen Great BattleShipS OF the At
Iantic Squadron. Behind These
We're Ranged the ArmOred Cruis.
erS, GuRbOats, Torpedo Boat De-
StrOyers and Fleet AuXiliarleS.
Especial to the ARGUs.)

StFOyeEs and Fleet AuxiliarleS.
Especial to the ARGUs)
San Francisco, Cal, May 8.-The
greatest naval review ever seen in
American waters took place today in
San Francisco bay. AS Secretary of
the Navy Metcalt steamed down the
long columns of f1ag-draped fighters
and was saluted by each vessel in turn,
the sight was one never to be forgotten
by the thousands and thousands of
spectators who lined the shores and
filled the countless excursion boats
that dotted the waters of the bay.
AS naval pageant, the review was
the most notable in American history.
There have been several great naval
parades on the Atlantic coast during
the past two years, but in no instance
was the numb of vessels anywhere
near SO large was the case today.
Forty-six vessels of war participated
in the demonstration. OF course the
center of attraction was the sixteen
great battIeships of the Atlantic squad
EOns 10OulDo bAtS0 WO1O 1oASOo IAAO
armored cruisers, gunboats, torpedo
boat des troy ers and fleet auxiliaries.
From the city front there was an ex-
cellent view of the mighty fleet as it
lay at anchor, stretching in a formida-
BILE line from the foot of East street to
Hunters Point.
Battleships and cruisers, gunboats
4
the huttering flags and the brilliant
hued pennants and bits of bunting
which form the International Signal
Code. During the salutes to the Sec
retary of the Navy, the white puffs of
powder smoke f1oated away like tiny
hecks OF summer clouds among the
futtering flags of the decorated ships,
the effect being one of unexpected
beauty.
In the fleet was represented almost
every type of vessel known to the
American navy OF the present day.
The stalwart If, 900 tonners of the Con-
necticut class shared honors with the
tiny destroyers that likewise made the
l4,OOe- mile journey from Hampton
Roads. Five stages OF American bat
tleship construction were represented
in the line and as an object lesson in
the grow tn of the American navy the
spectacle found one of it's most strik-
ing features. The same guns that ut
tered goOd-by tribute to President
Roosevelt at Hampton Roads last De-
cember today voiced a welcome to his
Secretary OF the Navy.
The great ships tugged at their an
chor chains as the reviewing yachl
passed up and down their lines Each
vessel manned the rails as heSecretary
of the Navy passed, and the crews
stood at attention as the yacht skirted
each line. The vessels of both the At
lantic and the Pacific fleets looked al
most as spick and span in their coats
of white paint as though they had but
recently lett the dry dock. From the
shore there appeared q dazzling back
ground of warships, whose glistening
white sides sparkled in the light rays
reflected from the water. and whose
light bun superstructure and stacks
hued flags floating from mastheads
and peak, from fghtingtops and flying
trucks.
In every part of the world where
they have been seen American vessels
have always attracted attention be-
cause of their graceful lines and clean
cut appearance. Today, assem- bled
into the greatest fleet that ever flew
the Stars and Stripes, riding at anchor
in one of the most beautiful harbors on
the American continent. these ships
that constitute the backbone of the
American navy and have been SUBJ
ject of lively discussion in naval cir
cIes the world over, made an impress
ion that will live long in the memory
of the hundreds of thousands who
looked on, while the Secretary of the
Navy, surrounded by brilliant staff
of officers, doffed his hat in acknowl-
edgement of each thunderous salute
which marked the progress of the re-
Wiew.