Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-11-02
THOUSANDS SEE review
VICE-ADMIRAL GIVEN ENRIRSE.
MENT BY NAVY COMMAND
ERS PRESENT.
pacific ALSO Looks Good
Navy Department VIII Ask for More
Men--Rainhow Colors Reserved
for President.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-The fleet
has demonstrated its preparedness fol-
an emergency, and has shown the eff
fectiveness of the present organiza,
tion."
George Won L. Meyer, secretary OF
statement this evening on board the
peerless yacht, Mayflower, after hay
Ing inspected ninety-nine fighting
ships of the fleet assembled in the
Hudson river for the greatest mobili-
zation in the history of the American
navy.
President Taft will review the fleet
tomorrow as it passes out to sea, and
the Palisades and the shores of the
Hudson will echo back a greater
number of salutes than was accorded
the secretary today. Notwithstanding
the more spectacular event to come,
Mr.. Meyer says he is satisfied with
what he saw today.
Visits All Flag Ships.
Leaving the Mayflower in a speedy
admirals launch after having re-
ceived on board Rear-Admiral Oster-
haus. the commander in chief and the
division commanders the secretary
paid visits to the flag-ships of the
fleet, standing erect i'm the launch
with silk hat held firm and frock
coat flapping as he sped from ship to
ship in the face of a twenty mile
nor by nor west wind. The May
flower fired salute of nineteen guns
as she left her side, and this salute
was repeated by each of the several
flagships that he boarded, beginning
With the Connecticut and ending with
the Little Dixie of the torpedo fleet.
His calls completed, the secretary
e-boarded the Mayflower, which
had steamed to the upper end of the
several miles of warships, and passed
slowly southwark as he passed.
Gratificd With Appearance.
The echo's roared back from the
New York shore after an interval so
long that 1t seemed as II a second
bombardment were going on in the
streets of Harlem. 1t was $40
o'clock p. m. when he had repassed
the Connecticut on his return trip,
marking the end of the days formali-
ties. Members of the house on naval
affairs with the secretary visited each
flagship, and were honored with
salute of seventeen guns. They too
We're gratifled with the apparent ef-
ficiency and preparedness Of the fleet,
and when the party reassembed on
the Mayflower, hope was expressed
that congress might see fit to create
the position of vice-admiral.
Should BE Vice-Admiral.
''The rank Of commander in chief
should be commensurate with his
great responsibility" said Secretary
Meyer, "and it is due his position that
he should have the rank of vice-ad-
miral."
Rear-Admirals Wainwright, Street,
the secretary's aides. endorsed this
expression.
More Men Needed.
This mobilization has also demon
strateel,' continued Secretary Meyer,
that for our reserve fleet we should
have a greater number of enlisted
men. l have become Interested In this
part and will ask for 1000 more men.
These estimates provides for a great
er force than last year, but they could
easily be utilized with good effect"
Two slim noscd destroyers, painted
green, patrolled the course during the
Inspection, and there was no unto
ward incidents throughout.
Thousands See the Review.
About 100000 persons witnessed
the review from the New York shore
and gaily decked harbor craft bore
other thousands up and down the
line.
Inspiring tunes of the Star Span
gled Banner" came from each war
ships when either the secretary's
barge or the Mayflower 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 secre-
tary as he passed back along the line,
but these arrangements were changed
as the inspection progressed. The
ships did not dress in rainbow colors
as had been expected. but reserved
this honor for the president.