The San Francisco call., 1908-05-08
METCALF TO PASS
SHIPS IN REVIEW
Vessels Will Fire 459 Shots as
Salute to the Navy
Secretary

Four hundred and ffty-nine shots
sufficient to end a war, will be fired
this morning in the bay as the gunboat
Yorktown. with Secretary of the Navy
Victor H. Metcalf aboard, passes in re-
view the combined Atlantic and Pacific
fleets.
1t will be the most splendid review
that was ever held. The secretary of
the department will see the tried and
proven crafts of the American navy
lying calmly at anchor, with their
white sides bleaming and their black
guns poking quietly but alertly out
to sea. And as the Yorktown turns
into the easterly lane Of anchorage, be-
tween the West Virginia, flagship OF
the Pacific fleet, Admiral Dayton, and
the Minnesota, flagship of the second
squadron of the Atlantic fleet, Admiral
Thomas. the three-inch guns on the
two fiagships will sound the first shots
OF the salute of seventeen guns which
each battleship and cruiser is to utter
in honor of the secretary. And at the
boom of the salute the ship firing the
gun will break into its full dress, with
colors taunting the breezes from anchor
chains to mast tops.
ALL IN FULL DRESS
On every ship the officers and crew
will be in full dress at quarters. Every
ounce of gold and every archaic
chapeau in the combined fleets will be
donned today. in honor of the secre-
tary of the navy. On every deck the
marine band will be stationed and as
the Yorktown passes each band will
strike up some patriotic airs.
Secretary Metcalf will board the
Yorktown. which is lying off Oakland,
shortly before 10 o'clock. At 10 o'clock
the start will be made. The Pacific
feet will be reached first and the
Yorktown will turn down the easterly
avenue between the West Virginia and
the Minnesota, continuing down the en-
tire waterway to the recurrent boom
OF seventeen guns from each ship and
in the blaze of color that comes when
every ship spreads its gayest buntings.
On arriving at the southern reach
of the fleet the Yorktown will turn
and steam back between the first and
second squadrons of the Atlantic fleet.
The boom Of the three pound guns, the
tapping Of the colors and the music of
the marine bands will carry from each
fighting craft to the review ship.
ONCE EVANS SHIP
Slowly the Yorktown will steam to-
ward the head of the line. where the
Connecticut is anchored. Once the
Yorktown was Robley D. Evans ship.
That was when the admiral was lieu
tenant commander. The gunboat ever
has a regard for the admiral and will
proudly steam toward him, its own
colors flying from jib to peak
The review will be completed off the
Connecticut and the Yorktown will
anchor between and 20 the front of the
Connecticut and the Minnesota But
the recurring boom of the seventeen
guns from the 27 ships Will not have
ceased by then.
The moment the Yorktown comes to
anchor the launches from each ship will
and captains Of the feet to the York
town, there to pay their respects TO
the secretary of the navy.
HIsToRY,s GREATEST REVIEW
Never before has a secretary of the
navy had the opportunity of reviewing
such a tremendous fleet as will be seen
by Secretary Metcalf this morning.
Never before was there ever fired in
honor of a secretary of the navy as
many guns in salutes as will be dis
charged this morning. Never before
were so many flags futtering from
confines of a single harbor.
President Roosevelt saw the feet
proceed on its cruise from Hampton
roads on December Is last. This morn
ing President Roosevelt's secretary of
the navy viii review the battleships
that made the famous cruise and win
congratulate the admirals and captains
of the fleet on their achievements.
New York City is now spending on
education $120,S7S each school day.