Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-11-04
PRESIDENT TAFT
REVIEWS WARSH|PS
Greatest Display OF sea Power Ever
Made in American Waters In
spected by Secretary Meyer

New York, Nov. President Taft
arrived here this morning from WASH
lngton to review the warshlps ON the
Hudson river At o'clock he boarded
his yacht Mayfiower and proceeded to
q point near Staten Island to review
the feet. The review will end late this
afternoon.
The greatest aggregation of fight.
ing ships ever assembled in this coun-
try was inspected yesterday by Sec
rotary of the Navy George Won l..
Meyer.
Ninety-nine in all, they lay at an
Choir, gay with colors, In six great d.
visions, seven miles in length.
Along this line Secretary Meyer
passed in the yacht May nower, accom-
panied by more than seventy guests,
including members OF the senate and
house committees on naval affairs.
Secretary Meyer boarded the six flag
commander-in-chief. Rear Admiral Os-
terhaus, on the Connecticut; then TO
Rear Admlrals Badger Ward, Howard
and Fiske, and lastly TO Captain Ben
son. in command OF the Utah, the
dreadnought flagship of the sixth dlvi.
sion.
As he approached each ship a bugle
sounded -four rufiies," signal for the
bluejackets to man the rails. All the
officers. in full dress, assembled aft on
deck to receive the secretary, and as
he climbed up the side between eight
"side-boys" at attention. the boat
SWANS mate piped him aboard.
AS he went over the side, in depart
ing, salute OF nineteen guns was
fired from six-pounders forward, but
onl ythe nagships saluted.
salutes Begin to Boom.
Assisted by Rear Admirals Vain.
wright. Creeland. Potter and Fletcher,
acting as aides, Mr.. Meyer and his
guests boarded the Mayfower. When
he broke his blue-starred flag and
moved out into the stream the Con
necticut. nearly mile up the river,
ired the first salute OF the day.
The Mayfiower then steamed up the
river and took position not far from
the flagship. This was the signal Tor
the beginning OF formalities, and soon
Roar Admiral Osterhaus and the diyi-
sion commanders came aboard to pay
their respects.
A salute of thirteen guns was fired
as they went over the side. and Mr.
Meyer then began his return calls. set
ting of in swift barge to go from
flagship to flagship. The Mayfiower in
the meantime steamed to the upper
end of the column to receive Mr.
Meyer for his return trip south along
the entire fleet.
100000 View Spectacle.
Each ships band struck up a march
~ the secretary's barge approached.
and those who had vantage points
along the Riverside Drive were able
to see the crews lined up at atten.
ton.
Perhaps 100000 persons all told saw
the spectacle from ashore, and thou.
sands more crowded harbor craft
which steamed up and down the ri Ter.
Only three torpedo boats--the Bar
ney. Tingley and Craven-were miss.
Ing from the list of tO2 vessels order
ed to the mobilization The fleet as ii
stood included every battleship in the
United States navy, twenty-four in all,
every one in fighting trim
One day ahead of President Taft.
who will review the feet as it passes
ot TO sea before dispensing, Secretary
Meyer had the first honor of seeing
the greatest array OF warships ever
assembled in American waters.