Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
Nearly 100 u. S. Warships
Steam Past MayfIoWer
at Hampton Roads.
COOLIDGE COMMENDS
LONG LINE OF VESSELS
Nearly Is Miles of Fighting Craft
Leave for Sea Duty After
Stirring Spectacle.
By j. RUSSELL YOUNG,

"A
MAYFLOWER, off Virginia Capes,
June 4,-The greatest armada the
Nation has ever assembled for the
review of Chief Executive passed be-
fore President Coolidge at the Virginia
Capes today on it's way out to sea.
AS the SO vessels of all classes of
the United States fleet steamed
proudly past the presidential yacht
Mayflower the President gave every
indication of the deep impression the
magnificent sight made upon him.
In his commentator of the splendid
line of warships the President ex-
pressed himself simply with the two
words, "Well done" signaled to every
vessel in the long line when the re-
view was half over just as the Cali
fornia, the flagship of the battleship
division, appeared. To the officers
and men of the fleet these words meant
everything specially so, coming as
they did from the commander in
chief of the Army and Navy.
'Well done" is the customary ex-
preston used in the Navy for COM
mendation. It is accepted by those
in the Navy as being the highest pos
sible praise, and leaves nothing un-
said.
With the President aboard the May
flower, besides Mrs. Coolidge, were
Secretary OF the Navy Wilbur and
Mrs. Wilbur, Admiral E. w. Eberle,
chief of naval operations, and Mrs.
Eberle and the White House news
paper correspondents and photog-
raphers.
Admiral Pays Respects.
Shortly after the cruiser Seattle.
the flagship of the fleet, which led the
line of ships as they passed in review,
dropped out of line and cast anchor
a short distance from the Mayflower,
Admiral Charles F. Hughes, COM
mander-in-chief of the fleet, came
aboard the Presidents yacht. This
visit was one of respect. The admiral
returned to his flagship half an hour
later. and with his officers gathered
about him viewed with the most gem
uine pride the stirring spectacle OF his
own ships plowing through the wa
ters on their way out to sea.
AS the admiraIs barge, which con-
veyed him and his two aides, Rear Ad.
miral Yates Sterling, chief of staff OF
the fleet, and Comdr. II. +. Kingman,
flag lieutenant of the fleet, arrived
alongside, the President looked on
with much interest as the NaVyS
honors for fleet admiral were ac-
corded. These honors included shril
piping for the admiral, the lining OF
the rails by the crew Of the yacht.
then the sounding of four drum ruff
f1es, and four bugle flourishes followed
I1xy v11n ir7cr Of Admiral
March" by the Mayflower band. Capt.
Wilson Brown, commander of the
Mayflower, stood at the ladder to well
come the little party and escorted
them to the presidential party.
President Coolidge shook hands
warmly with the grizzled commander
of the fleet, and after personally con-
graduating him upon the splendid
showing of the Nations warshipS, pre-
sented him to Mrs. Coolidge. 1t was
easy to see that this was a happy
moment for Admiral Hughes.
The Mayflower arrived a. the re.
viewing grounds about IL O'Clock.
dropping anchor at the far eastern
end of Thimble Shoal Channel about
2 miles north of Cape Henry, after
spending the night in snug berth at
Smiths Point at the mouth of the
Potomac River, which was reached
about dark.
Bright Skies Aid Review.
Bright skies and pleasant weather
contributed greatly to the pleasure OF
the great review. During the morn
ing the sky was partly clouded, but
Just as the Mayf1ower appeared in the
roads the clouds lifted and the sun
came out in full force. There was a
II. s.,T1
roll TO the Presidents yacht as it lay
at anchor throughout the demonstra-
ton. The President and Mrs. Coolidge
did not appear to mind this in the
least, and proved at the conclusion
that although their experiences with
the sea have been slight that they are
good sailors.
The fleet, which was anchored be-
fore the review in the historic waters
of Hampton Roads, got under way
little before IL o'clock. and as the
Seattle with its trim, racy lines and
the admiralS pennant flying from the
topmast, in the lead, reached point
about a mile from the Mayfiower
President Coolidge, who was at lunch
con below at the time. and the MEM
bers of his party went above. AS he
took his position at the starboard rail
of the bridge deck the review had Of
fcialiy begun. The first glimpse OF
this slowly moving fleet of vessels was
stretching back for dis
tance of nearly Is miles.
Planes Herald Approach.
The approach of the grand armada
was heralded first by five Navy planes
flying several miles ahead of the
Seattle. Close behind these and ar
ranged in battle formation were IL
Navy seaplanes.
When the Seattle reached within
500 yards of the Mayt1ower the presl-
dental salute of II guns was fired.
This salute was followed by 19 other
vessels in the line as they came with
in 500 yards of the Mayf1ower. Those
vessels with bands aboard played the
national anthem, which was preceded
by four ruffles with the drums and
four bugle flourishes. AS each vessel
passed the President, the officers, at
tired in their full dress uniforms, in
Guiding the cocade hat and epaulets,
were seen assembled on the quarter
deck, while the crew stood at atten-
ton along the rail. The ships passed
the Mayfiower on the port side at a
distance of about 500 yards. with the
exception of the Seattle, which swung
out of line. about 1000 yards below
the Mayflower and anchored for the
remainder of the review.
Every ship continued on out to sea,
49, H. I,vk,v 49, 4A