Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-18
Gala Day for
Atlantic Fleet
REVIEWED BY PRESIDENT IN THE
HUDSON RIVER.
SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM
Was Manifest Observation-Disclosures
Watch Parade of 5000 Sailors and
Marines-President Paid Tribute to
Secretary Daniels.

New York, May 17.-President Will
son-the man on whom the eyes of the
world are turned because of the inter
national situation-today reviewed the
Atlantic fleet in the Hudson river and
at luncheon rendered him on shore
by the city of New York, told a dis
tinguished gathering of navy officers,
army officers and civilians what the
country and its navy stood for. The
great battleships that lay in the river,
he said, were engines to promote the
interests of humanity"
Stands for Humanity.
"The inspiring thing about America"
the president assured, 'is that she
asks nothing for herself except what
she has right to ask for humanity
itself. We want no nations property;
we wish to question no nations hon.
or; we wish to stand selfishly in the
way of the development of no ma
ton. 1t is not pretention on our part
to say that we are privileged to stand
for what every nation would wish to
stand for and speaking for those
things which all humanity must de-
sire.
Voice of Moral Principle.
The spirit which brooded over the
river today, said the president, was
)
of America is the voice of moral prin-
ciple, that there is not anything else
she loves and that there is not any
thing else for which she will contend" !"
The president took occasion in his
speech to pay tribute to Secretary of
the Navy Daniels who sat beside him.
Weather Did Not Abate Enthusiasm
Although the day was damp and
chilly, with occasional downpourS of
enthusiasm with which New York
greeted the head of the nation. In the
forenoon he reviewed a land parade of
5000 sailors and marines from the
fleets sixteen battleships and from
the moment he set foot on shore until,
after the luncheon, he returned to the
Mayf1ower to review the fleet, his
progress through the streets was a
continuous ovation, remarked upon by
those who accompanied him as the
most enthusiastic they had witnessed
since the presidents Inauguration. He
was plainly touched by the welcome
accorded him.
Spirit of Patriotism Everywhere.
Everywhere the spirit of patriotism
was in evidence. Many men and wo-
men tooq every opportunity to tell
the president of their support in the
present international crisis. Thous-
ands stood in the chill drizzle, while
the brigade of sailors and marines
marched up Fifth Avenue and dur
ing the afternoon, with a cold damp
wind blowing across the Hudson,
thousands more thronged the slopes
of Riverside Drive and other vantage
points to watch the Mayf1ower as she
passed up the river between the grim
gray lines of war vessels.
Received Official Visits.
The president boarded his yacht for
the review at o'clock, after a quick
trip from the Hotel Biltmore, where
the luncheon was held. A half hour
was spent in receiving official visits
from the flag officers and captains of
the fleet and then the Mayf1ower got
under way. The president, together
with Secretary of the Navy Daniels,
Secretary Lane, Secretary Redfeld
and Acting Mayor McAneny, stood on
the yachts bridge.
Ships Dressed From Stem to Stern.
The fleet stretched ahead up the
river for four miles, each ship dressed
from stem to stern with pennantS and
ensigns, the national colors f1uttering
over the taffrails and at the mastheads
The crews in blue service uniforms
the officers in gold lace, manned the
rails. Overhead dark clouds hung
sullen and a gray mist blew over the
river, harmoniZing with the gray OF
! Tie DdIlISSI1pS OuI 81 LIl4Ch at IAAISo
that the furthermost ships of the line
could scarcely be distinguished from
the Mayflower's starting point. Hel
! course took her between the line OF
| battleships and deStroyerS, around the
end of the fleet and back between the
battleships and the Manhattan shore
Presidents Salute.
| AS the presidents yacht, conveyed
by four destroyers, reached the flag
| cI,i q first in lima the
| presidents salute Of 81 guns Doomed
across the water and reverberate6
| back and forth between the Palisades
and New York's skyscrapers. Each
ship as the Mayf1ower passed thunder
ed similar salute, 336 guns in all.
Bands Played the Sar SpangIed Ban
| ner.
The Mayf1ower was followed by the
despatch boat Dolphin, carrying AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Roose'
welt, the yacht Iris of the commerce
department, the Yankton as press
boat, the Dixie, with the wives ant
| friends of navy officers aboard and {
municipal ferryboat for the city boarc
! of aldermen. Their bands saluteC
each battleship with the playing of the
| Star Spangled Banner, which the bat
tleships' bands returned.
| President Wilson kept up a conStan
stream of questions to those abou
him. He asked about armament anC
crew of each ship and often express
ed his pleasure.
Presidents Barred Head.
The frequent playing of the ma
tional anthem kept the president
head bare during most of the review
Despite the mist he refused to keel
his hat on.
Il have too much respect for tn
fleet and the anthem" he remarked
A miniature boat called the 'Suf
frage' hanging on the Michigan
which later appeared in a water carn1
val tonight, attracted the president
attention, but he only smiled.
Guest of Admiral Fletcher.
The president remained aboard tn
yacht after she had again cast an
Choir and at 1880 was taken in nav.
launch to the flagship Wyoming, wher
he was a dinner guest of Admira
Fletcher and officers of the fleet.