The harbor was policed by torpedo boats and there was no interference with the outgoing ships, but the torpedo boat Craven, in the performance of its duty, in endeavoring to prevent the steam lighter Pioneer, owned by the Wright & Cobb Co., from crossing the river, was rammed by the lighter and had her starboard bow plates bent. The mobilization from beginning to end was remarkably free from mishaps on land and water, a happy fact due to the extreme vigilance and good system of the naval and municipal authorities working in harmonious cooperation. Expressions of Appreciation Following are copies of the letters of the Mayor, Admiral Osterhaus and the Secretary of Navy expressing appreciation of the work of the Mayor's Committee: CITY OF NEW YORK, October 16, 1912. Hon HERMAN RIDDER, No. 182 William Street, City: Dear Mr. Ridder: Permit me to thank you very much, and through you the Chairmen of the sub-committees under you, for the efficient work done by you, and by them under you, in the receiving and entertaining of the President, the Secretary of the Navy, and the officers and men of the United States Navy. Sincerely yours, W. J. GAYNOR, FLAGSHIP OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. NAVY YARD, NEW YORK, N. Y. Mayor W. J. GAYNOR, City Hall, New York City: Mayor. MY DEAR MR. GAYNOR.- I tried in a few words to express our appreciation of our reception by the citizens of New York, but I am sure I did not do so adequately. It was grand in every way— on a scale that can only be realized in a community so large in its generosity and hospitality as New York. To all of us it is an epoch in our lives, and to the Navy as a whole it was an evidence of interest and pride in the same that will have a beneficial effect on the whole country. Our thanks are due to all the committees who arranged for our reception and who did so much to make each and every feature a success and a pleasure. With great respect, Very sincerely yours, H. OSTERHAUS, Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy, Commander-in-Chief. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. October 25, 1912. His Honor the Mayor, City of New York, New York: SIR.I have the honor to express my sincere appreciation of your hearty co-operation towards making the Naval Review in your City, October 12th to 15th, 1912, a signal success. The prompt and efficient assistance of yourself and the city officials made easy what otherwise would have been a most laborious task, to mobilize one hundred and twenty-three men-of-war in the crowded waters of our largest City. As it was, the ships assumed their positions with the least possible interference with river traffic, received thousands of visitors each day, were entertained lavishly ashore, and left the harbor on schedule time without the slightest delay in a program of several days extent. I beg that you convey the Department's thanks to those city officials and public-spirited citizens who, under your direction, contributed so greatly to the success of the Review. Respectfully yours, BEEKMAN WINTHROP, Acting Secretary of the Navy. Complimentary Dinner by Admiral Osterhaus Admiral Osterhaus further evidenced his appreciation of the City's hospitality to the fleet by giving a dinner on the flagship Connecticut at the Navy Yard on the evening of October 22, 1912, to which he invited the Mayor and a few representative members of the Mayor's Committee. The limited quarters of the ship restricted the number of guests to about 25, of whom half were naval officers. Those who were not naval officers were Mayor Gaynor, who sat at the Admiral's right hand, Hon. Herman Ridder, Major Gen. Thomas H. Barry, U. S. A., Hon. John H. Boschen, Mr. Samuel W. Fairchild, Dr. Edward Hagaman Hall, Dr. George Frederick Kunz, Col. William A. Mann, U. S. A., Mr. William C. Muschenheim, Hon. Lewis Nixon, Mr. Charles W. Price, Hon. R. A. C. Smith and Hon. Rhinelander Waldo. Some other members of the Mayor's Committee who were invited to the dinner were prevented by previous engagements from being present. Finances For the entertainment of the fleet the sum of $23,032.40 was raised by the Mayor's Committee and $25,000 was appropriated by the City of New York, making a total of $48,032.40. Of this sum $6,010.57 was unexpended and was returned to the City treasury December 16, 1912. |