Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-24
.WARSH|PS|
7 0 REACH
YORK
THURSDAY
Arrangements for Review and
Land Parade Completed
by Wireless; Smaller .
Craft Delayed.

New York, Dec. 23.-Steaming
home from participation in tliel
bloodless allied victory over tllcI
German armada, Americas overseas
battle fleet-nine superdreadnaughts
with the Pennsylvania flagship oil
Admiral Mayo, commander OF the /
navy, as escort, will arrive off New
York harbor just in time to lead the
great peace review by Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels Thursday morn
ing.
Though officers on the staff oi
AVice Admiral Grant, commander OF
the home fleet, were unable to-
night to state the position OF ticI
westward cruising squadron, they
announced that the returning war
ships would not pass the statue ok
Liberty before 9 o'clock the morr-l
ing of the 26."
Progress to Be Timed.
Dismissing reports that the vet-l
eran fighting craft from European
waters might anchor in the harbor
Christmas day, reforming the fol-l
lowing morning for the naval parade.
the vice admiral's assistants declared
that in no case would these ships
make their appearance in the upper
harbor before they had passed the
presidential yacht, Mayflower, with
the navy's civilian chief on itxE
bridge. 1t was more likely, they
said, that the homecoming fleets
progress would be timed to reach
Ambrose channel in the early hours
of Thursday morning, when the yes.
sells would steam up the bay in pa
rade formation, arriving off Liberty
Island between 9 and 10 o'clock.
In Wireless Communication.
Vice Admiral Grant had been
throughout the day in wireless COM
munication with Admiral Mayo,
members OF the former staff stated.
bu the commander-in-chief had
given no information as to the
exact time of his expected arrival
off the coast. However, messages
were exchanged completing arrange
ments for the review and for the
land parade of returning seamen and
their officers,
Owing to delay, by storms, of the
destroyers and smaller craft in the
overseas fleet, it was said, only
5000 officers and men, two-thirds Of:
the complement of Rear Admiral,
Rodman's and Rear Admiral Rogers.
battleship squadron, will march in
the parade.
This will start Immediately after
the naval review, probably shortly
after noon, and upon its conclusions
shore leaves affecting lin rotations
every officer and man aboard the re-
turning vessels will be put into ef-l
feet.
Atlantic Fleet in Waiting.
Awaiting the overseas units which.
they will join in the great procession
up the harbor, 4,200 of the l5,006
men aboard the west Atlantic fleet,
Vice Admaril Grants guardians Of
home waters, today were enjoying
leaves at their homes near New
York or liberty" for few hours III
the metropolis. This fleet, including
II battleships and seven destroyers
with attendant craft, and compriss
ing the bulk of the naval force which
operated throughout the war from
Chesapeake Bay boasts not only the
protection of the American coast,
but the training of $4,000 men for
the battle convoy and patrol units az
its share in the conflict.
Though composed largely Of.
ships of the "old navy" including
three that saw service in the Span
ish-American war, Vice Admiral.
Grants squadron will be headed BIZ
the nations newest draadnaught.
the electrically driven New Mexico,
which came into port today after
cruise undertaken to establish sta4
tistics for its type of propulsion. On
these records, naval officials said
would be based the recommended
tions of the department regarding
future construction along this line.
The Mississippi, sister of the New
Mexico, though equipped with oil
burning engines, also will be in the
line with the home fleet.