The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-02
Fighting Force of Sea
II a S Proved Its
Preparedness.
MEYER SMILES
AFTER REVIEW
Secretary of Navy Inspects
Ninety-Nine War Vessels, and
Is Satisfied That They Are
Equal to Any Task That
May Come-Pass Before
Taft To-Day.

New York. November 1.-The 1ee'
has demonstrated its preparedness for
any emergency, and has shown the
effectiveness Of the present organiza
ton"
George Won l. Meyer. Secretary Of
the Navy, smiled as he made this
statement this evening, on board tina
presidential yacht Maynowcr. after
having inspected ninety nine lighting
ships OF the Atlantic fleet assembled in
the Hudson River for the greatest
mobilization in the history of tho
American navy. President Taft will
review the fleet tomorrow. as IT passes
out to sea, and the Palisades and the
shores OF the Hudson will echo back "a
greater number OF salutes than was
accorded the secretary to-day, but
Notwithstanding the mere spectacular
event 10 come. Mr.. Meyer says that he
is satisfied with what he saw to-day.
Leaving the Mayhower in an ad
miral's launch. after having received
on board Rear-Admiral osterhaus
the commandment chief. and the divi
sion commanders. the secretary paid
visits to the iaEships standing erect
in a launch. SILK hat firm and a frock
coat Mapping as ne sped from ship TO
ship in the face of a twenty-milc Nor
by nnr'west wind. The Mayfower fired
a salute of nineteen guns as he left
her side. and this salute was repeated
oJ each of the seven tiagshps that he
boarded, beginning with the Connect
cut. and ending with the little Dixie
tender OF the torpedo fleet.
Each Ship Snlutcs.
His calls completed. the secretary re-
boarded the Mayhower. which had
steamed 10 the upper end OF the seven
miles of warships, and passed slowly
southwark along the entire line. each
ship saluting nineteen times as no
passed. The echos roared back from
the New York shore after an interval
so long that 1t seemed as II sccona
bDmbardment were going on in the
streets of Harlem. It was $40 Z. NJ
when he had repassed the Connection,
on his return trip, marking the end OF
the days formalities. Members OF
the House Committee on Naval AZ
fairs followed the secretary on his
visits TO each flagship and were honor
cd with salute OF seventeen guns
They. too were gratihed with the APP
parent efficiency and preparedness OF
the fleet and hope was expressed that
Congress might see fit to create the
position of Vice admiral.
The rank of communicative chief
should be commensurate with his great
responsibilities" said Secretary Meyer
And II Is due his position, that he
should have the rank or vice-admirnl.'
Rear AdmirGia Wainwright, Nreeland.
Potter and Fletcher, acting as the
secretarys aides, Endorsed this express
sion, and hoped also that the position
OF vice-admiral would be created
This mobilization has also demon
strated." said Secretary Meyer. that
for our reserve fleet we should have
n liGtC ba
anticipated this in part by asking for
1000 more men in this years estimates
which have now gone TO the Treasury
Department These estimates provide
for the maintenance and adoption OF
these men, but they arc no larger than
those of last year
Foreign Attaches Present.
Besides the Congressmen aud other
prominent men aboard the Maytiower
this afternoon, attaches of four foreign
nations were present. They We're Cap
tain c. +. G. Sowerby. OF England:
Commander RetZmann. OF Germany
Commander Tokutaro Hiraga, of Japan
and Commander Vassiiien. OF Russia
There were also present Senator'S
Root and OGorman. of New York,
ersham, Secretary of the Interior
Fisher and others. The two latter ac-
companied Mr.. Meyer on his visits to
the agships.
Two slim-ncsed destroyers, paintea
green, patrollcd the course during the
inspection. and there was no unto
ward incident throughout. About 300
900 persons witnessed the spectacle
from the New York shore, and gaily
decked harbor craft bore other thous-
ands up and down the line.