Evening star., 1915-05-18
j. U.S.ATLANT|CFLEET S.
STEAMS OUT T0SEA
Line of Warships Five Miles in
Length Reviewed by
President Wilson.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WITNESS THE DEPARTURE
Nations Big Naval Force Now on
Way to Newport for the An
nual Maneuvers.

" ~,
of warships which have been at anchor
in the Hudson river for ten days
steamed out to sea at IL o'clock today
with President Wilson reviewing the
five-mile line as 1t passed the May
flower off the Statue of Liberty Head
ed by the superintendent Wyoming,
Admiral Fletcher's flagship. the sixteen
big battleships and their train OF minor
fighting craft steamed past the presi-
Dental yacht at a speed or fourteen
knots, each ship with its sailors ana
marines standing at the rail at atten-
tion.
AS each craft neared the Mayfiower
her six Founders, fore and aft, let loose
white puffs of smoke, and over the
harbor there rolled the thunder OF
presidential salute of twenty-one guns.
Viewed by Many Thousands.
Tens of thousands of persons fiocked
to vantage points to view the great
marine procession. Along the water
front. on both sides of the Hudson.
the piers We're black with spectators.
the windows of downtown skyscrapers
were thronged. persons perched on
hundreds of housetops witnessed the
spectacle, and Battery aPrk, southern
most tip of Manhattan, was filled with
a crowd that stretched from the sea
wall across the acres of green to the
customhouse.
Traffic on the Hudson river was sus-
pended between the Manhattan and
New Jersey shores half an hour before
the fleet sailed. Ferry boats. excur-
sion steamers, tugs and other craft lay
at dock with many thousands of per-
sons who had come to watch the de-
parture. 1t seemed as if all New York
had forgotten the rain of yesterday
and swarmed to the rivers edge to say
goodbye.
Occasional Glimpses of Sunshine.
The day was overcast, but through
the clouds the sun shone at intervals
The air was chill and a stiff breeze
along the water front made overcoats
comfortable. So great was the city's
interest in warships. however, that few
of the throng who stood during the
fleets passage complained of discom-
fort or departed before the last of the
battleships had left the Mayflower be-
hind.
Close by the Mayfower lay the Dol
phin, the Isis and the Yankton. with
government officials. members of the
citizens committee, newspapermen and
invited guests aboard. Swinging at
anchor, the little reviewing squadron
tossed out streams Of pennants and
bunting that danced against the gleam-
ing water about the shadow of the
Goddess OF Liberty, In contrast to the
monotony of gray steaming past.
Bands Play National Anthem.
AS each battleship passed the May
flower. with the crew lining rails and tur-
rets with fringe of blue. the ships band
played the national anthem There was
little cheering in response. In bidding
goodbye to the fleet, the crowds seemed
to be in thoughtful mood.
Leaving New York, the fleet made for
Newport. the rendezvous from which will
be directed maneuvers in the war game
along the Atlantic coast. The President
and most of his party had arranged to
return to Washington aboard the May
flower, the notable exception to the pro-
gram being Secretary Tumulty, who was
to go back to the capital by train.
Presidents Estimate of the Navy.
President Wilson yesterday afternoon
reviewed the Atlantic fleet in the Hud-
son river. and at luncheon rendered
to him on shore by the city of New
York told a distinguished gathering of
navy officers. army officers and civilians
what the country ami its navy stood
for The great battleships that lay in
the river, he said. were engines to
promote the interests of humanity"
(The Presidents address will be found
in another column of The Starr
The President boarded his yacht for
the review at o'clock after 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. Secre-
tary Lane. Secretary Redfield and Act
ing Mayor McAneny. stood on the
yachts bridge.
Pennants and Ensigns in Profusion,
|, The fleet stretched ahead UP the
river for four miles, each ship dressed
from stem to stern with pennants and
ensfgns, the national colors f1utterine
over the taffrails and at mastheads.
The crews in blue service uniforms, the
officers in gold lace. manned the rails
Overhead were dark, sullen clouds
and a gray mist blew over the river.
harmonizing with the gray Of the bat
tleships, but thick at times that
the furthermost ships of the line could
scarcely be distinguished from the
Mayfiower's starting point Her course
took her between the line of battle
ships and destroyers around the end of
the fleet and back between the battle
ships and the Manhattan shore.
Each Ship salutes President.
AS the Presidents yacht. conveyed
by four destroyers, reached the flag
ship wyoming. the first in. line, the
Presidents salute of twenty-one guns
doomed across the water and re-
yerberated back and forth between the
palisades and New York's skyscrapers
Each battleship as the Mayfiower
passed thundered a similar salute, 1886
guns in all.
The Mayfiower was followed by the
dispatch boat Dolphin, carrying Assist
ant Secretary Of the Navy Roosevelt;
the yacht Iris of the Commerce De-
partment, the Yankton as press boat,
the Dixie, with the wives and friends
of navy officers aboard. and a municipal
ferryboat for the city board of alder
men. Their bands saluted each battle
ship with the playing of The Star
Spangled Banner" which the battle
ships bands returned
President Wilson kept up a constant
stream of questions to those about him.
He asked about the armament and
crew of each ship. and often expressed
his pleasure.
The frequent playing of the national
anthem kept the Presidents head bare
IO.-ti.,,ad ~ Nirth n.o~