South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-18
SALUTING WILSON,
1 GREAT j. {. FLEET
STEAMS TO SEA
Million Persons Line Hudson to
Watch Passing of Largest
Fleet Ever Assembled for
Review by President.

NEW YORK, May 1S.-MOre than
a million persons lined the Hudson
river and occupied places OF vantage
on the tops of high buildings today
as Pres't Wilson and New York city
bade farewell to the greatest Ameri-
can fleet that has ever gathered for
a presidential review. Weather con-
ditiOns were ideal
Prest Wilson reviewed the fleet
from the naval yacht Mayt1oWer, near
the statue of Liberty As each battle
ship passed the presidential yacht it
fired a salute of p guns from its
3-mch piece. In the harbor tugs and
other steamships shrieked a frantic
goodbye from whistles and on the
shore bells rang out their farewell 10
the chief executive, as his ship passed
out to sea and down the Atlantic
coast.
1t was a sight to cause thrills and
inspire noise as the might fleet of
gray giants steamed in perfect align
ment down the bay the long black
muzzles Of the guns looming from
the turrets beneath the ripping stars
and stripes.
Wyoming Leads Fleet.
The battleships were led by the
Wyoming. Rear Admiral Fletcher's
~
promptly at 10:45 o'clock.
Three hundred and thirty-six salut-
ing shots We're fired from the 16 bat
tleships.
Strict precautions had been taken
to prevent accidents in the Hudson
river as the ships weighed anchor
and departed. All ferries south OF
Forty St were compelled to
abandon their schedules and all river
.sra n IL pIa
channel.
Pres't Wilson spent the night upon
the MayfiOwer and was said by his
secretary, Joseph Tumulty, to be feel
ing excellent this morning The pres
ident expressed pleasure when he
learned that the weather had cleared.
There was a slight haze, through
which the sun struggled to break and
a brisk breeze blew from the sea.
but there was no rain
Just after the Mayfiower took up
her position the naval yacht. Dolphin.
bearing government officials and
members OF the families of officers of
the fleet anchored just south of her.
Dinner Establishes Precedent.
IL was said that the dinner to
Pres't Wilson on board the Wyoming
last night established a precedent 1t
was the first time that the commander
dined aboard a Warship with all the
admirals and captains of a fleet like
the Atlantic. There was Admiral +.
f. Fletcher. there were Rear Admir-
ais Mayo, Mclean, Bousse and Coff-
man: Rear Admiral Usher, COM
mandant of the navy yard: Rear Ad-
miral Benson, chief of the bureau of
naval operations; Sec'y of the Navy
Daniels and Asst. Sec'y Roosevelt.
The review came to a close just
at noon. The last battleship in the
line. the louisiana. passed the May
flower at 1856 o'clock Three de-
stroyers. which acted as an honorary
guard 70. the MayfiOwer. chased all
harbor cI-ft away from the presiden-
tial yaCh; just before the review be-
gan and stood by while the review
was In progress.
The passing out TO sea OF the fleet
gave the enormous downtown crowds
"a chance to see the biggest naval pag-
cant ever staged here. There were
four miles of battleships in the line.
Sailors manned the rails of the detil-
ing ships. business-like in their at
titude.