The Washington herald., 1911-11-03


military efficiency, and must have been
proud of its personnel.
shows Naval skill.
The demonstration has had an educa-
tional value in arousinS patriotism, in
creasing the general knowledge of and
interest in the navy, in illustrating the
ability to mobilize on short notice, and
showing the skill of the officers who
turned the whole fleet in the narrow
river and sent it to sea at the rate Of
fourteen knots an hour.
THE equipment of the fleet is excel
lent, except as TO the number of de-
stroy4 4rs and cruisers and colliers in pro-
portion to the whole number. We had in
the feet to-day twenty-five destrOyers,
Ind to meet the full requirements there
should have been approximately 100 de-
stroyerS, or an average of four to each
battle ship. 1t is true that there has
been a marked improvement in the type
of colliers and fast cruisers in our navy.
but it is also true that we have not a
sufficient number.
In addition to building great battle
ships. other nations are building enor-
nous hgh-speed cruiSerS-twenty-eig
Knots per nour-and it is believed that
OUr navy should he similarly equipped.
Unless navy is maintained at the high
est possible state of efficiency, 1t is a
needless extravaganza.
4 am more than ever convinced of
the desirability of comforting upon the
commanding officer of our fleet the
title of admiral. or at least vice ad-
miral. At present the ranking officer
is rear admiral, and this title is not
commensurate with the Importance of
the fleet. At the review of the German
fleet at Kiel a smaller number of ships
were under the command of a full ad-
miral; two squadrons were commanded
by vice admirals. and each of four di-
visions was commanded by a rear ad-
miral"
Leaves for the Mnyfower.
President Talt reached Jersey City
at o'clock this morning in his special
car, the Ideal in which he has just
completed his $1,000 mile swing
around the circle" FormaIity began
the moment the President appeared in
the Ideals drawing room, where he
was greeted by Lieut.. J.. c. Palmer, his
naval aid, and Lieut.. Bristol, of the
MayfOwer.
Mr.. Taft left the train at S o'clock
passed through the Pennsylvania train
shed afoOt, and boarded the govern
ment tug Patuxent at the railroad
wharf. Fifteen minutes later he was
clambering aboard the Mayflower. AS
the President stepped upon the deck of
the Mayflower. the yachts band gave
him four ruffles and a flourish"
Then the opening bars Of the Star
Spangled Banner" were rendered. The
President dropped his silk hat and
stood bareheaded until # was con-
cluded. Then he smiled broadly and
shook hands with Admirals Fletcher
and Potter and Capt. Power Symington.
commander of the Mayfower.
with the bIuejackcts all at attention,
The President passed to the dining salon.
While the President was brcakfasting
How are you, Ge\ge? You look like
"A grizzly bear" laughed the President, re-
ferring to Mr.. Meyers fuzzy-wuzzy coat
Presidents salute Given
The President, availing himself of Gus
tom, had fixed an hour for the breaking
of the Presidential flag. Promptly at 9:45
the Presidents flag was hOisted to the
foremast, and simultaneously came the
twenty-one-gun salute from the Mayfiow-
er's double battery. Instantly a gun on
the port side of the fleet flagship, the
Connecticut. anchored off Fifty-seventh
street. barked, and for the next two
minutes there was an inCeSsant roar as
every ship in the seven-m mile-lOng line
rendered its salute to the President.
a few minutes before 10 the President
went to the bridge of the MayflOwer with
Secretary Meyer, and the MayiOwer
moved upstream to a point a few hun
r6S nf
What A magnificent scene" exclaimed
the President as his eyes rested on the
long line Of sea fighters dressed in the
gayest of bunting and envelOped in
clouds of smoke, as they fred the salute.
AS soon as the MayfiOwer took up her
new anchorage. the admirals of the fleet
set out in launches to pay their respects
to Mr.. Taft.
Then the President boarded a swift
motor launch for the formal visit to
the flagship. AS the President. with Mr.
Meyer and their aides, left the Mayf1ower,
fiotilla of destroyers closed about the
frail motor craft. They were the secret
service of the sea. and were taking no
chances in the choppy water. AS the
motor boat set cut for the Connecticut
the black, low-lying Corsair, with J. P.
Morgan and a party of friends aboard,
dipped her colors. The financiers grace
full tribute was almost overlooked in the
excitement.
AS the President. to the strains Of
Hail to the Chief and the national
anthem. climbed up the side of the Con-
necticut every battle ship in the fleet
renewed the cannonading. The Presi-
Dental call on the flagship was brief
When the President returned 20 the
Mayflower and climbed to the forward
bridge the wind was fairly bowling in
the rigging. Mr.. Taft was Well muffied
up in a greatcoat. His silk hat was in
constant danger of being blown away
except when the Presidential hand held
it close to his breast.
President DOns Hat.
The little Mayhower Immediately
white. appeared a silvery minnow among
a school of Il onster tritons as she moved
up the river between the lines of battle
ships and destroyers. Again and again
Mr.. Taft doffed his hat in response to
the thunderous salutes.
The maneuvers executed, the feet be-
gan to move. They were soon bowling
toward the green sea miles that stretched
beyond the Narrows, at speed of four
teen knots an hour. The steaming col
umn. flung farther than the eye could
reach in the haze of the late afternoon,
presented a fitting picture to close a
memorable day. The throbbing ships
were 4CO yards apart, although 500 yards
stretched between divisions. AS the ships
slipped toward the Mayfiower one of the
scurrying cloud banks brought a furry
Of snow, the second of the day.
- a L.