The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-10-14
NAVAL REVIEW
WAS INSPIRING
Greatest Display Ever Made BY the
American Fleet Took Place
Today at New
York.
--
TAFT WITNESSED IT
The Roar Of saiutins Guns Awoke the
Echoes Of the River az
the Fleet Gath
cred.
TAFT WITNESSED
IT UNDERWRITERS M'UoMBs


UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-THE roar Of
saluting guns echoing and re-echo-
ing from the nature-made cliffs Of
New Jersey and the man-made noun
tains and canyons Of Manhattan, gave
notice to all within ear shot today
that the greatest naval review in the
history of the United States was on.
The first salute nineteen guns
from the levithian Connecticut, an
swered promptly by the gunboat Dol
phin as she dropped her mudhook
and broke out the flag of Secretary
of the Navy Meyer, came promptly at
nine o'clock and marked the inaugur-
alton of day of ceremony such as Is
seldom witnessed in America.
With the boom Of the last gun and
almost before the faint vapor Of the
smokeless charge had wound lazily
above the muzzle OF the saluting
piece, the admiraPs launch was In
! the water at the gangway leading
| from the Connecticut and Rear Admir-
al Hugo Osterhaus, clad in the blue
and gold OF his rank, with his COM
plete staff, jumped into their places
and the launch sped over to the Dol
! phin on whose bridge, clad In immac-
ulate morning garb and surrounded
by the officers of the gunboat and
those especially detailed to assist
/ him, was the secretary OF the navy.
The call was OF the most formal
/ character. The drums were muffled
as the uniformed officers ascended
/ the enclosed gangway, there was a
quick handshake and then Admiral
] Osterhaus took position at the left of
/ the secretary, while the squadron
commanders began to appear in the
launches which had brought them
from their vessels
4 Meanwhile fleet tenders had run to
! the pier at the foot of West 18th
street and were bringing to the Dol.
phin the members of the house and
senate committees on naval affairs
! who were to participate with the
secretary in the initial review which
preceded the formal review and in
spection by the commander-in-chief,
1 President Taft.
Meanwhile down in the smother OF
fog that masked the entrance to the
harbor just few rods from the
Ambrose Channel lightship, the presi.
1 dent was resting on board the May
4 flower Tossing slowly at the end OF
the anchor chain, the presidents
craft remained, always in touch with
I the big Connecticut by wireless, wait
ing the hour set to sail up the river
/ and take position at the head Of the
4 fleet.
AT 9:1D Secretary Meyer and Ad'
miral Osterhaus entered the Connects
cuts launch and visited the Wyom-
ing, latest Of Americas big gun fight
ing ships When the inspection end
ed, the secretary returned to the
Dolphin and few minutes later a
flag from the bridge wig-wagged a
signal and the Dolphin started slow
i ly I'D along the line OF anchored yes
! sells for the greatest review secre
tary of the navy was ever permitted
/ to hold.
i Immediately aste1n Of the Dolphin
4 came the gunboat Nashville with
newspaper reporters, photographers
and invited guests aboard. Then
came the river steamer, Hendrich
& Hudson with Mayor Gaynor and the
New York city committee. There was
an interval of a sea mile between the
| first three craft and the miscellaneous
collection of vessels that accompani
j ed them. Under the rules all craft
! had to keep that distance from the
) inspecting vessels and the regulation
was rigidly enforced by the revenue
cutter service.
Il The inspection ended, the vessels
i repaired to the places assigned tt
them and at 1890 the Mayflower
with President Taft on. board, sailed
/ up the river to her anchorage of
West 31st Street. On board in addi
ton to the president, We're Mrs. Taft
Miss Taft, Major Rhoads, Mrs. Laugh
lin, Mr.. and Mrs. Larz Anderson, Mr.
and Mrs. John Hays Hammond, Mr
: and Mrs. G. p Taft, Miss Louise Taft
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry w. Taft, Genera
b. F. Tracy, Mr.. and Mrs. George D
Sheldon, Mrs. William Fuller and Jas
D. Lyon.