The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-03
Hundreds of Cannon
Roar Salute to Com
mander-in -Chief.
PEACE ADVOCATE
DEEPLY IMPRESSED
President Hugs No Fond Delu.
sion of Passing of Wars, and
Is Pleased With Demonstra-
ton of Power and Eff
cheney Given by Grim
Fighting Vessels.

New York. November 2. Fresh from
his oss-continent tour of 10, 900 miles
during which he received senatorial
pledges which seem to indicate the
early ratification of the treaties of
peace and arbitration with Great Brit
ain and France, President Taft to-day,
from the windswept bridge of the his
toric little cruiser-yacht AIayflower.
reviewed the mightiest line of hghting
craft ever assembled under the Amer
lean flag.
The President had indicated in all
his speeches in advocacy of the treaties
of peace that he entertained no fond
delusion that war, by convention, could
immediately be made thing OF the
past He declared that the treaties
were step in the right direction; that
the armed camps or Europe were look-
Ing to the United States to lead In
what might provo to be great world
movement toward the goal of peace,
but that for long time to come the
suggestion of disarmament would have
no force
VIII Urge Naval Efficiency.
To-day Mr.. Taft let 1t be known that
he would urge upon Congress the
necessity of building two great super
Dreadnoughts year until the Pan
ANA Canal Is in actual operation. The
canal. he declared. would double the
efficiency of the navy, and from that
time on one battleship year might
suffice to keep the American navy In
the forefront OF the worlds military
powers.
Countless thousands OF people Joined
with the President in paying tribute
TO the five-score vessels which lay at
anchor in tho Hudson. Twenty -four
first class battleships were In the line,
surrounded by armored cruisers, scout
cruisers. meteor-like destroyers, tor
pedo hoatc, submarines, md the rank
and file of auxiliary vessels that
serve as tenders to the fleet. There
were ninety-nine in all.
twenty-five of the hattleships toward
: the close OF the day picked up their
anchors, turned In the teeth of the
gale, and went proudly out to sea. The
President watched the passing pageant
in impressed silence.
The review had been the most brill
liant in the history of the country
and with It's conclusion the great fleet
has dispersed. the various ships wend-
inG their way to home stations 70
await call to winter manoeuvres In
South sra waters.
Splendid Setting.
The setting tor the review was a
splendid natural marine ampitheatre.
The feet lay on the broad bosom of
the hudson. walled in on either side
by the t,wering buildings OF Riverside
Drive and the precipitous cliffs of the
New Jersey palisades.
The day was one of changing sun
shine and shadow. Out of the north
west there blew gallo which at times
attained maximum of fifty-nine miles
an hour, and brought with 1t the chill
Of winter.
One of the c!oudbanks brought a
furry of snow, the first OF the season
here. but it did not deter the specta-
tors who stretched for miles along the
river banks and crowded the decks of
excursion steamers circling about the
warship anchorage.
There was one fatality during the
day. Gustav Frey. seaman on the
battlesh!p New Jersey. fell overheard
and was drowned. Phe news had not
reached the President when he left
tonight for Hot Springs, Va, 70 spen1
four days in recreation before resum-
Ing the final stage of his long trip to
Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee
The President arrived from the West
shortly after o'clock this morning
and went ct once on board the May
flower. where later he was Joined by
the Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Meyer.
and the latter's STAFF from the Navy
Department, Rear Admirals VAIN
wright. Potter and vreeland, CAPTAINS
Fletcher and Potts. and Commander
Philip Andrews
Salute Presidents Flag.
The ceremonies formally began at
$3.50 o'clock, when the Presidents flag.
amid roar of guns from every vessel
of the aeet was broken from the main
truck of the Mayflower. The little
yacht by this time had moved UP close
to the head of the seven-mile column
of battleships and had cast anchor
Immediately the admirals of the fleet
set out in launches to pay their re-
spects to the commander-i in chief OF
the army and navy Mr.. Taft receiv-
ed them On board with the honors due
their rank. and after the first formal
exchange, had IL personal word of
greeting for each.
The Wide river reaches bad been
dashed into wtite-cappcd waves when
President Taft set out for the flagship
Connecticut to re- ~ the courtesies of
the commanding officer. Tho tiny pub
lie launch In which he RODE bobhsi
about perilously in the rough water,
but Mr.. Taft did hot mind the tossing.
The Mayflower's guns doomed sa-
lutte as the President left the yacht.
and when his flag temporarily was
hoisted on tho Connecticut the other
vessels OF the fleet took up the noisy
token of tribute and respect. and for
the second time their guns spoke In
unison. The presidential call on the
flagship was brief and formal. and tho
last of the ships had scarcely finished
their twenty guns when the cam
non OF the Connecticut sent out fresh