The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-02
CANNON'S ROAR
 GREETS TAFT AS HE REVIEWS FLEET
Battleships, Cruisers, Torpedo Boats, DestrOyers and Sub marines Bark Salute of 21 Guns as Mayfl0wer Passes Upstream
Especial from United Press.)

(Spec1al rom OnueQ PreSS.)
 New York, Nov. 2-Midst an almost continuous roar of cannonading, Pres- ident Taft today, reviewed the great est fleet of warships ever gathered to- gether. With the Presidential pennant snapping in the chill, morning air the trim yacht Mayflower steamed through the mighty fleet that President Taft might be assured as Secretary Meyer, was yesterday, that the navy he com mands is second only to that of Eng land and second then only in numbers. |. New York hasn't heard such a can- nonading since the days of the Eng fish. Nor has New York ever witness ed such an impressive gathering Of naval fighters. The Palisades, on the New York and New Jersey sides for miles were thronged with countless magnificent panorama that was un- folded to them down the broad stretches of the Hudson river.
 Promptly at 9:30, the Presidential flag was broken from the fore truck and the tiny guns on the Mayflower's forward deck cracked 21 times-a sig nal to the fleet that it's commander in-ch'nf' soon would visit and inspect it. he Mayflower immediately got under way and stood up the river, while passing craft said Good morn ing'' with fiendish shrieks from their Slr6nS ana IOSIlOTuS.
 Off West 57th street, lying in to- ward the Manhattan side, was the grim Connecticut, flagship of the fleet, and home of it's commander. Rear Ad- miral Osterhaus The Mayflower went close alongside and lay to.
 Just as though it hadn't all been planned in advance, there was a sud- den hustle on the Connecticut The rear admirals launch was sent over the side while on the Connecticut g decks gunners served the tiny saluting guns that paid the vessels homage to the commander. In full dress uniform, Rear Admiral Osterhaus and his flag flew the rear admiraPs flag of two white stars on a blue. field. The launch sped away to the side of the Mayflower and Admiral Osterhaus clambered over the side to pay his respects to his commander.
 The visit to the President was brief. Taft spoke a few words of praise for the seafghters. Then Admiral Oster- haus went over the side, while the Mayfowers' guns fired 13 times-the rear admirals salute. One by one, as they had come, the other division commanders departed, each receiving 13 gun salute from the Presidential l yacht
 When all had gone, the Presidents gig was made ready and the comman- I der-in-chief set out to return the visit of his subordinates. On account of | lack of time, the President only visit ed the flagship where the highest of | ficers were awaiting him on the quar- terdeck. AS the cockswain smartly sent his little craft alongside the great fighter, the President climbed the gangway, piped up by the Bo'sun's s mate. His ears were tickled by six ruffles of the bugle, paying him trib- ute.
 The Presidents visit lasted only a ! few minutes. There was another ruff file of bugles, another tweeting of the bo'sun's pipe at the gangway and the President went back to the May | flower
 The little yacht bore upstream and the real saluting started. As she
 passed the Michigan, that vessel open ed and hardly had her 21 guns died away when the superdreadnaught Del aware was wreathed in smoke as her guns began barking. Then the North Dakota took up the firing and then l the Louisiana. 1 And so, for miles, it went. Through | mighty lines of battle craft, all | "dressed ship' with thousands of sig nal flags fluttering to the breeze. with marines and bluejackets manning the
 rail. the tiny yacht picked her tedious way.
 The President, as commander-in- chief, gazed with a serious smile al the death-dealing monsters that lined 1 his path They all spoke of war ano | the President is all for peace. But I the inspiration of patriotism filled all
 who saw the big fleet.
 'Its-a wonderful sight" exclaimed | the President. wonderful! II I means a great deal to all of us."