The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-02
As Taft Had His First Real View
of the American Navy To-day
REVIEW GRAND SPECTACLE
Gray Armada Gathered in the Hudson
River Was Officially Inspected by
the President, and officers
Were Received by Him.

New York, Nov. 2.-President Taft to-
day had his first real view of the Amer
ican navy. From the bridge of the presi-
Dental yacht Mayfower, the president
rev+nwed the gray armada that for
nearly week has been anchored in
the Hudson river awaiting his inspec-
tion. As the Mayhower picked its way
in and out among the giant craft Of
the battleship line, the guns of the fleet
roared in reverberating chorus of
salutes.
Accepting these tributes as a matter
of course and disdaining to reply to any
one of them, the yacht with the presi-
dents blue-crested flag at the main
truck sailed gracefully along the seven
mile column of fighting ships, turned
at the end and headed again down the
river Late this afternoon the entire
fleet of 80 vessels in all, will get un-
derway and pass in review Of the presi-
dent while the Mayfower lies at anchor
off the Statue Of Liberty.
On the Mayhower, which was an
chored near the Connecticut, President
Taft received the officers Of the feet,
and when the reception was ended the
president returned the courtesies with
q call on board the Connecticut. The
events of the day We're purely official
ceremonies The party aboard the May
flower was also strictly official
Secretary Meyer Satisfied.
Secretary of the Navy Meyer, after
his inspection of the vessels yesterday
afternoon, declared last night that "the
feet has demonstrated its preparedness
for any emergency and has shown the
effectiveness Of the present organiza-
ton" He also expressed the hope that
Congress might see fit to create the po-
sition of vice admiral.
"The rank of the commander-in-
should be commensurate with his great
responsibilities, said Secretary Meyer.
"And it is due his position that he
should have the rank Of vice admiral.
Rear Admirals Wainwright, Vreeland,
Potter and Fletcher, acting as the sec
retary's aides, endorsed this expression
and hoped also that the position of
vice admiral would be created.
"Ths mobilization has also demon
strated," continued Secretary Meyer,
tHdb iOi uui IEStlNt Hftl VIC Euthlb
have a greater number Of enlisted men.
J have anticipated this in part by ask
Ing for 1000 more men in this years
estimates which have now gone to the
treasury department. These estimates
provide for the maintenance, and addi-
tion of these men but they are no larg-
er than those of last year"
Besides the congressman and other
prominent guests who were aboard the
Mayfower yesterday afternoon, there
were the attaches of four foreign ma
tions present. They were Capt c. F.
G.. Sowerby of England, Commander
Retzmaun of Germany, Commander To-
kutaro Hiraga of Japan and Comman-
der Vassilieff of Russia. There were
also present Senators Root and 0'Gor-
man of New York, Mayor Gaynor, At
torney General Wickersham and Secre-
tary of the Interior Fisher and others.
The two latter accompanied Mr.. Meyer
on his visits to the fiagships.
Two destroyers patrolled the course
during the inspection and there was no
untoward incident throughout. About
100000 persons witnessed the spectacle
from the New York shore and gaily
necked narDor Ga1C pore OtneT LnOuS-
ands up and down the line Each war
ship crashed forth "The Star Spangled
Banner" when either the secretary's
barge or the Mayfower drew near, the
crews manned the rails and those ships
which he boarded hoisted the secretary's
flag with its blue field, white anchor
and four stars. It was announced early
in the day that all the fleet would not
salute the secretary as he passed back
along the line, but these arrangements
were changed as the inspection pro-
gressed. The ships did not dress in
rainbow colors as had been expected,
but saved this honor for the president
to-day.