The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-03
Once moro the fleet followed tho flag
ship IN !ts salutatioh TO supreme au-
ifboritv
Wind Fairly Homis.

2 snlp IN ITS salutatlon TO supreme au-
thority.
6 Wind Fairly Howis.
: When tho President returned to the
Y Mayflower and climbed to the forward
bridge. the wind Was fairly bowling
in the rigging. He was well muffled
n UP in great coat, and needed every
\ ounce OF Its warmth. His silk hat
constantly was in danger OF being car
itrted away. but Mr.. Taft held on TO it
IS Srtmly until the Mayflower. steam
J, ing up the river against the full force
4 OF the blow. lad begun 10 pass the
ships OF the line. Then Mr.. Taft
doffed his hat in answer to the strains
of the national anthem which came
X from each vessel, and the rigors of
naval Formally scarce permitted him
70 don 1t again !or a full hour and
half
The Maynower as she moved in ami
out amonS the gray-clad men OF war
was attended by two torpedo bonts. y
round trip OF the fleet completed. the
Mayfiower came again 10 anchor OF
West Twenty-third Street. TO permit
the President further 20 review the
ships after they had gotten under way.
The ships had been pointed up
stream all morning in the swing Of an
ehbing tide. 1t was intended that
they should not get under way until
the flow had changed and their rrows
had been pointed toward the wider
waters of the lower bay. This would
have made mauoeuvring the many
vessels in the close confines 81 the
river par2tively easy task.
For more than an hour past the
schedule time the President waited
for the tide to change and for the al
vance OF the moving fleet But under
the influence of the gale, the ebb CON
: tinucd undlminished.
Giving up hope at last for an early
change IA conditions, Rear Admiral os-
terhaus, in command of the fleet,
flashed orders 10 get under way. The
gay dressing lines which had Tapped
and tluttered throughout the day came
.tumbling TO the decks and the military
inasts and yardarms OF the batucships
stood ont again In ali their gaunt
baroness.
Difficult, Munocu,rcs
The exhibition OF seamanship In
volved in turning the massive vessels
practically in their own length. against
wind and tide, has never been equalled
in the navy and called out great praise
from the President and the naval Of
iicials aboard the Maytower.
The manoeuvre successfully COM
pleted. the fleet began to move. Tho
The eye could reach In the haze of the
late afternoon. presented fitting pic
ture to close the notable day.
Those who saw tho lighting ileet."I
said President Taft after the review,
could not fail to be struck with its
preparedness and With its high mill
tary efficiency. and must have been
proud OF its personnel
He said the demonstration had had
an educational value in arousing pa
triotism, in illustrating the ability TO
mobilize on short notice and In show
ing the skill Of the officers.
The equipment of the neet is eS-
cellent." said tho President, except
cruisers and golfers In proportion TO
requirements there should have been
approximately 100 destroyers. or an
average OF four to each battleship"
Mr.. Taft emphasized the fact that
unless navy ls maintained at tn.
highest possible state OF efficiency 1t
IL 4 needless eXtravagance." He said
he was more than ever convinced of
tho desirability of comforting upon tho
commanding officer of the feet the
title OF admiral. or at least of vice
admiral.
President Taft. after raviewing the
oattleship feet here to-day. lett to-
night for Hot Springs, Va. where he
VIII arrive early tomorrow morning.
for four days recreation before go
ing to Cincinnati. entueky and Ten
nessee. He Will reach Washington for
the winter November IL