The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-11-03
TAFT REVIEWS
LARGEST FLEET
EVER GATHERED
NINETY-NINE FIGHTING YES
sells OF UNCLE SAM PARADE
IN NEW YORK HARRoR.
Rearing salutes and Flashing Collars
Greet Nations Chief as He Passes
Up and Down Hudson River Re.
viewing Great Fleet.

New York, Nov. From the bridge
OF the Mayfiower, where Theodore
Roosevelt had stood to bid a Gcdspeed
to the departing and then a wslcome
to the homecoming battleship fleet,
that circled the globe three years ago. !
President Taft today reviewed the
most notable assemblage of warsh'Os |
in the history of the American navy.
There was not the thrill of possible
adventure attached TO todays splea-
did spectacle, as there was a. TIC
departure of the fleet on its perilous
journey around the Horn, but from
the standpoint of lighting power, the
number of ships Of the line and spec
tacular setting, the review presented
marine picture of unsurpassed
beauty and impressiveness.
In three long columns stretching as
far as the eye could reach up the
Hudson river, the grim, gray ships
SO in all-had awaited the presidents
coming, In his honor they were dress
ed from stem to stern in futtering
flags, as if attempting for this gala
occasion to conceal the muzzles of the
death dealing guns. The gay bunting
lent color to the scene, but the mean
ing of the duh gray hulls and the
polished rifles that protruded from
turret mouths could not be masked
The significance of the mobilization
and review of the fleet at this time
was simply to demonstrate the pre-
paredness of the American navy for
any emergency. To further impress
this fact upon the president ane the
nation, and to say nothing of the
world at large, the naval authorities
We're not content with the usual plan
OF a review of the fleet at anchor.
But in addition, the orders provid e1
that after the Mayfower had s. tmed
through the several columns the fleet
should get under way and pass out
to sea This double spectacle made
the review unique in the annals of the
naval displays throughout the world,
and attracted to New York the mill
tary and naval attaches of the powers
of Europe.
Spent Day on Water.
President Taft planned to spend Il e
entire day upon the water, AMI lot
once during his visit to the feet was
he to touch Manhattan Island. His
train arrived in Jersey Ci.y from
Washington soon after Z o'clock. and
a few minutes later he was beng
transferred to the Mayfower. As lie
went aboard his flag was broken from
the masthead and the usual honors
We're paid to him. As a rule, Mr. Taft
requests that all ceremonies on The
Mayfower be suspended. Today's
events being purely official, however
the ceremouials prescribed in re navy
regulations were followed. to the let
ter The party on board the prcui-
dental yacht also was strictly Off
cial. Secretary of the Navy Meyer,
the presidents aide and Secretary
Hilles went aboard with Mr.. Taft. 4
large party Of invited guests. incI.ld-
ing senators, representatives and
foreign military and naval attaches
from Washington were aboard the
dispatch boat Dolphin, which followed
in the wake of the Mayfiower where
ever she went.
Sail Up the Hudson.
When President Taft had taken his
place on the bridge the Mayflower got
under way and headed up the Rud-
son. 1t was quite a sail to the foot
of Fifty ninth street, where the head
of the battleship column rested. On
board the flagship Connecticut a sharp
lookout had been kept down the har,
Dor, and as soon as the presidential
flag was made out in the distance, the
flagship let go with her saluting guns.
The white puff from the first gun had
hardly cleared the muzzle when me
other vessels in the line, following TIE
motions of their leader, bad begun he
firing of the presidential salute Of
twenty-one rounds.
The last dying echoes of the salute
were drifting down the river from the.
far end of the line as the Mayfower
.crept to an anchorage pace ne4- the
Connecticut. Her engines had scarcely
stopped turning when half a score of
sturdy little steam barges were head
ed for her starboard gaugway. The
admiral and officers were on their
way personally to pay their respects