The Washington times., 1912-10-14

NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-THE roar OF
saluting guns. echoing and re-echoing
from the nature-made cliffs OF New
and canyons of Manhattan. gave notice
to all within earshot today that the
greatest naval review In the history
OF the United States was on.
The first salute, nineteen guns. from
the Connecticut, answered promptly By
the gIInboat Dolphin as she dropped her
mud hook and broke out the flag Of
Secretary OF the Navy Meyer. came
promptly at Q o'clock and marked the
Inauguration OF a day OF ceremony
such as IL seldom Witnessed in America.
with the boom OF the last gun and
almost before the faint vapor OF the
smokeless charge had wound lazi!y
above the muz1le OF the salutirg piece,
the admirars launch was IN the water
at the gangwav leading from the Con-
necticut. and Rear Admiral Hugo Oster-
haus, clad In the blue and Gold of his
rank, with his complete utaf. jumped
into their places and the launch sped
over to the Dolphin, on whose bridge.
clad in immaculate morning garb and
surrounded by the officers Of the gun
boat and those especially detailed to
assist him. was the Secretary of the
Navy.
Formal Visit Made.
The call was Of the most formal char
acter. The drums were ruffled us the
uniformed officers came over the side.
there was a handshake. and then Ad-
mrial 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.
Meanwhile fleet tenders had run to the
pier at the foot of West Seventy-nintf
street, and were bringing to the Dolphin
the members Of the House and Senate
Committees on Naval Affairs, who were
to participate with the Secretary In tn,
initial review preceding the formal re-
view and inspection by the Commander.
in-Chief. President Taft.
President Down Harbor.
Meanwhile down in the smother of fol-
that masked the entrance to the har
Dor just a few rods from the Ambros,
channel lightship, the President wa
resting on board the converted yach
Mayfower. Tossing slowly at the enc
of long anchor chain. the President
craft remained always in touch with tn
big Connecticut by wireless, waiting tn,
hour set to sail up the river, and taxi
position at the head OF the fleet.
At 9:l0 Secretary Meyer and Admira
Osterhaus entered the Connecticut
launch and visited the Wyoming, lates
Of Americas big gun lighting ships
| When the inspection ended. the Secre
tary returned to the Dolphin, and few
minutes later a flag from the bridge wig
| wagged signal, and the Dolphin start
| ed slowly up along the line of anchore,
| vessels for the greatest review a Secre
tary of the Navy was ever permitted t
hold.
Secretary Reviews Fleet.
Immediately astern of the Dolphin
came the gunboat Nashville, with news
paper representatives, photographers
and invited guests on board. Thel
came the river steamer Hendrick Hud
son. with Mayor Gaynor and the New
York city committee. There was an In
terval OF sea mile between the frs
three craft and the miscellaneous col
lection of vessels that accompanie
them. Under the rules all craft had I
keep that distance from the inspectin
vessels, and the regulation was rigor
ously enforced by the Revenue Cutie
Service.
The inspection ended, the vessels re
aired to the places assigned to then
and at 80 the Mayflower. with Presi
raft on board. sailed up the rive
to her anchorage of West Thirty-firs
beard. N addition to the Presiden
were Mrs. Taft, Miss Taft, Majo
Rhoades, Mrs. Laughlin, Mr.. and Mr'
Larz Anderson, Mr.. and Mrs. job