Arizona republican., 1911-11-03
Greatest Fleet of Fighting Ships Ever Assembled Under the American Flag Was Reviewed by Presi- dent Taft.
LORDLY HUDSON
 WAS THE SETTING
Executive Issues Statement in Which He Says Two More Dreadnaughts a Year Will be Needed Un- til Canal is Finished.

NEW YORK, Nov. 2-Fresh from ms cross country tour, during which he received many senatorial pledges or support of his arbitration treaties
 President Taft from a wind-swent bridge on the little cruiser yacht May flower viewed today the mightiest line or lighting ships ever assembled under the American flag. Today the presi- dent let it be known that he will con- tinue the fight with congress for the necessity for building two super dreadnaughts a year until the Pan anna canal is in actual operation. The canal, he declared, will double the eff flciency of the navy and from then on one battleship a year will suffice to keep the American navy in the forefront of the worlds powers
 Countless thousands joined the pres ident in paying tribute to the five score vessels that lay at anchor in the Hudson. Twenty-four first class battleships were in line, grimly gray in their preparedness for war and with magazines fairly bursting under the weight of millions of pounds of shot and shell. Around this formida- ble line were armored cruisers. yield ing but little in weight and armament to their heavier sisters; scout cruisers, slender and fast; meteor-like destroy CTS, the green wasps of the sea; still smaller torpedo boats. submarines, auxiliaries, tenders and despatch boats. There were 99 in all.
 As if the preparedness and power pictured in the anchored armada were not at all sufficient, 22 of the first class battleships toward the close of the day picked up their anchors and swept proudly and swiftly to sea. The president watched the passing pageant in silence. As the big fighting ships passed the sun was near setting and they spoke with crashing guns in a long series of salutes. The review was the most brilliant in the history of the nation and with it's conclusion the fleet dispersed and wended it's way home to the stations to await the call for maneuvers in southern waters. All told, the fleet made a line seven miles in length.
 fOllONlnB lle TtNleW ol tue AtldhliC battleship fleet in the Hudson river today, President Taft issued a state ment. saying that those who saw the review could not fail to be struck by the preparedness and efficiency of the navy, and must have been proud of its personnel
 The demonstration, he said. had an value in arousing patriot ism and illustrating the ability to mobilize on short notice, if the occa- sion ever arose.
 "The equipment of the feet" he said is simply excellent. Anyone who saw the officers take the giant ships up the river, turn them around and steam out to sea at the rate of four teen knots an hour knows it requires the highest ability to perform the task. But one thing l noticed, there are not enough destroyers. There are but 22 and should be at least a hun- dred. four to each battleship. Also believe the rank of admiral, or vice admiral. at least. should be conferred on the commander of this great fleet. It is demanded by the importance of the American navy. both at home and abroad"