New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-02
MEYER REVIEWS
BIGGEST FLEET
Saws Mobilization Has Shown
Navy's Preparedness for
Any Emergency.
SHIPS THUNDER SALUTE
Secretary Has Mayor Gaynor
and Congressman as HIS
Guests-Taft to Inspect
Ships To-day.

ohAfo -
"rhe mobilization of this great feet
IN thirty days has demonstrated the pre-
naredness Of the navy for any emer-
eency. II has developed that the ships
can be assembled in a short time and
shown the effectiveness of the present
organization
Secretary Meyer of the Navy Depart
ment was flushed and triumphant as he
said this yesterday evening, standing In
the saloon of the Presidents yacht. the
MayhCwer. after he had finished his in
spection of the hundred warships an
chored in the North River And he was
surrounded by a group of no less tri-
umphant naval officers-men who were
veterans Of the old navy and who had
witnessed and taken part in the growth
OF the new navy from its beginning in
the famous old White Squadron.
They recalled that other great review
in the North River, in 1882. the year of
the official opening Of the Columbian
exposition at Chicago. when the White
Squadron was anchored under the Pal
isades for the first time it had been
gathered into one fleet to show the sea
power OF the new navy of America.
That was considered a great feet
they said. 1T was one Of the biggest
reviews that had ever been held at that
time"
What was the best ship there" vas
asked
Here, Dick" they called to Rear
Admiral Richard Wainwright, tell us
what was the pride Of the navy in ~
The Philadelphia was the flagship
said Admiral Wainwright. Rear Ad-
miral Bancroft Gherardi was in COM
mand"
THE San Francisco was there said
Captain Templin NJ. Potts. Il was on
her"
The Chicago and the Newark we're as
good as the Philadelphia said Rear
Admiral Frank F. Fletcher.
"There we're less than a dozen alto
gether." said Captain Potts.
Navy's Strength Demonstrates.
To-day there were twenty four battle
ships and more than ore hundred vessels
in all under inspection" sail Secretary
Meyer We had In the line the Utah
and the Florida, just in commission, the
most powerful war vessels in the world.
They make up, with the North Dakota
and the Delaware. the division Of super
Dreadnoughts II is our expectation and
hope that this review has enabled many
hundreds of thousands Of people TO re-
alze the extent Of the navy and the
enormous strides that have been made
since the review Of '92.
1t has shown the navy many things"
he continued For one thing, IL has
shown that the new organization has re-
suited in both efficiency and economy.
The ships are becoming more self-sus-
tanning. For example, the New Hamp-
shire and the Michigan, / was told to-
day. would require no repairs before
going TO sea again.
1T has also demonstrated that for our
reserve feet we should have an in
creased number OF enlisted men, ! have
anticipated that in part by asking for
two thousand more men in the estimates
this year. The estimates which have
gone into the Treasury Department
cover the pay and maintenance OF t,.ese
men, and they are no larger than the
Appropriation of last year.
That the Ileet is able to make such
demonstration as il has is due TO team
work on the part Of the aids and chiefs
Of bureaus, working in conjunction with
the aid for operation and the commander
in chief"
How about the rank Of the com
mander In chief" some one asked.
At once there was a chorus Of protest
from the naval men.
Il am glad you spoke Of that" said
Secretary Meyer. Il am glad you
brought that point up. The commander
In chief should be a vice admiral. at
least AS it is. the rank of the com
mander in chief Is the same in title with
the col. .manders OF divisions, and II
should be commensurate with the enor
nous armada under his charge. lie
should be AT least vice-admiral.'
This review is greater than either tie
German review or the French review OF
this summer" said one Of the naval Off
GERS, land Germany has an admiral. two
vice-admirals and four rear admirals.
Yes" said another, "and Chill, with
one warship, has vice-admiral.
While the impromptu reception was
being held on the Mayfower at her an
chor3ge off 23d street the battleships
stretching northward TO Fort Washing
ton Point were tuning u their lights for
the night illumination. Here a military
mast was picked ort In colored disks
and there a searchliSht pointed long
finger TO the zenith, while closely packed
strings OF lights at the water line were
irregularly reflected in the roughening
surface OF the river.
Presidents inspection To-day.
II was the preparation for the last
night in the harbor. To-day the Presl-
oeDt reviews the great feet and the ves
sels pass through the Narrows and dis
I<rse TO their many stations. II will be
long day for the men on the ships.
he Presidents train arrives at the
pennsylvania terminal In Jersey City Mt
il5 a. m. and at o'clock he will be
hken TO the Msyfower. off 23d street.
Tor breakfast. His flag will he broken
OUT on The Mayfower at 9:30 and at 10
vcIock he will begin 10 steam nortnward