The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-15
ADMIRAL OSTERHAUS
 HIGHLY COMMENDED
No Other President Has Ever Gazed Upon So Powerful a Fighting Machine - Continuation of
 Mobilization Comes Today

Saturday. Most of the journey was made between double line of cruisers and battleships. and all the way from Thirty first street to within hailing distance of Yonkers, the cannonade of presidential salute Swept over the water
 -'swell," the President said as he left the bridge after the Mayflower had re- turned to her anchorage, everybody ought to be proud of that fleet"
 Naval attaches of Great Britain, Ger many, Japan. Italy and half a score of other nations sat with the President and watched the panorama of fighting ships.
 Meyer Inspects Fleet
 The Mayflower. hearing the President afte o'clock. During the forenoon, Secretary Meyer had inspected the fleet from the Dolphin. The smoke of the fleets salute to him still hung in a baze over the water when the flagship Con- necticut beloved a salute of 21 guns. Thence, as the Mayflower steamed north ward, each battleship on the starboard and each cruiser to port voleyed the long salute as the presidential yacht came abreast. For two hours the cannon ade kept up till the low lying smoke rested like fog on the tide Six tor pedo boats, conveyed the Mayflower. Di rectly behind the presidential yacht steamed the gunboat Dolphin and in her wake there came q harbor patrol boat, flying the flag of Mayor Gaynor.
 Next came the gunboat Nashville with newspaper men aboard, collowed by the 'Hendrick Hudson, bearing the citizens committee and their guests.
 Earlier in the day the Nashville had escaped by narrow margin collision with the mine layer San Francisco, laden with 9O,00o pounds of explosives intended for charging mines. Three other member $ of the Presidents cabinet were with him on the Mayf1ower, Attorney General Wickersham, Postmaster General HitcE- cock, and Secretary of War Stimson. The President was so pleased with the showing made by the 123 vessels and their 2S,Ooo men that he issued formal state ment expressing his pleasure.
 Taft Much Pleased
 It reads in part:
 My inspection of the mobiized fleet and a comparison with the force assem- bled last year, assure me that the navy is now in "a decidedly stronger and more efficient condition than a year ago. This IS d ulIttl result UT l1t reorganization which has increased the efficiency of the navy by cooperation of all the de- partments and officers of the fleet.
 "The widespread interest throughout the United States in this mobilization un- doubtedly will have beneficial effect in leading young men to consider more care fully the many advantages to be derived from enlisting in the navy, while those of the navy present on this occasion will
  still more zealous by the display of the potential strength of the military arm in which they are serving
 Meyers Sentiments
 Secretary Meyer also issued a state ment in which he said:
 T am most favorably impressed with the smart appearance of the vessels, but the point of prime importance is that they are at all times kept up to the high est state of efficiency and are now ready for any service the country may demand of them. The immediate cause for this most satisfactory condition is the ex- cellent state of discipline of officers and enlisted men, combineo with high or der of intelligence and patriotism. The commander in charge of the fleet is to be congratulated on the splendid showing made"
 Tomorrow the fleet will lift anchor and steam off to sea. President Taft will re- view 1t from ,the Mayflower. anchored rnear. the Statue of Liberty, as it passes out.
 Taft Discusses the Navy
 President Taft was the principal speaker tonight at the banquet at the Hotel Astor, given by Mayor Gaynor in honor of the President. his cabinet and the officers of the fleet. The Presi- dent discussed the navy at some length. In part he said
 "The policy of increasing the navy two battleships year has beeh con sistently followed until this year when it was reduced to one. I think this Is mistake-certainly before the Pan anna canal is completed. Naval author ities report that with the fleet as it now is, two battleships a year will hardly make up for what the fleet loses each year by the retirement or put ting on the reserve of vessels that are not, equal to the first class, modern re- quirements. The revenues of the gov ernment seem to be equal to such a tax. They have been in the past and they are likely to be in the future.
 ''I sincerely hope that whatever party comes into power the policy of two battleships a year will be continued until. through the Panama canal and otherwise. the needs of the Pacific coast for its defense shall be satisfied. T know there are a great many con scientious peace lovers who resent the expenditure of dollar for battle- ship Their theory is that we can reach peaceful solution of interna ticnal contests earlier if we begin dis armament and make ourself physicalIv helpless before the nations of the world. They believe that this will lead other nations to the same course, and so ultimately accomplish the purpose of all of us, which is the settlement of all international controversies by peaceful means.
 Disarmament Impossible
 T differ from these earnest ana thoughtful people with great respec; for their opinion. l do not think the world has yet reached q point where advantage would not be taken of our Inability to resist attack. or to meet other nations on an equality in war: and I believe that it is essential, in order that we should preserve our pres- tlge. by the exhibition of actual power of resistance and of attack until there shall be substituted some sort Of tri- bunal, before which any nation shall be enabled to call In any other nation to answer and to execute any judg-