Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-26
4 AeropIaHe Fleet
Escorts Ships
to Statue
SNOW HIDES THE
GREAT PAGEANT
Sirens Shrek in
Welcome For the
Sea Warriors
BY associated Press

~ .fSSoC4d.Cd ittSS
New York, Dec. 96.--Led by the
superdreadnaught Arizona, ten great
battleships, in command OF Admiral
Henry T. Mayo-the vanguard of
Americas victory fleet in European
waters-steamed majestically up New
York harbor to-day in review before
Secretary of the Navy Daniels and
were greeted with a tumultuous recep-
ton by harbor craft and hundreds OF
thousands of persons who lined the
shores. The fleet reached Ambrose
channel late Yesterday and rode at
anchor within sight Of the city's
lights last night.
The ships weighed anchor at 40
o'clock to-day and. escorted by a fleet
of twenty aeroplanes, proceeded
slowly UP the harbor to the Statue
of Liberty, where Secretary Daniels
ana party Of distinguished guests
N the Presidential yacht Maytiower
reviewed the procession. The shrieks
of thousands of welcoming sirens ami
whistles were drowned by the thun-
derous salute of nineteen guns from
each battleship as it came abreast Of
the Mayflower.
The dreadnaughts passed up the
Hudson and anchored from Fifty-ffth
10 One Hundred and Twenty hfth
street and preparations then were
made for 1O.65O men to disembark for
the land parade down Firth avenue
this afternoon.
The ships welcomed home. after
eighteen months of strenuous patrols
of seas infested by enemy submarines
We're the Pennsylvania. Arizona,
oklahoma. Nevada, Utah. New York.
Texas. Arkansas. Wyoming AMI
Florida.
In addition to Secretary Daniels. .he
reviewing party included Secretary of
War Baker, Secretary of Agriculture
Houston, General Peyton c. March.
chief of staff OF the United States
Army; Admiral Grant. of the British
navy. and the senior naval attaches Of
the Allied nations.
Residents of every hamlet facing
on New York bay last night eager
ly awaited their opportunity of be-
ing first to salute the Homecoming
armada. Every factory whistle for
miles around received q final inspec-
ton, so that it should not fail to
speak their welcome. It was ex-
pected that not a square foot of soil
on the heights of Brooklyn or Staten
Island would be vacant, while great
hosts thronged both banks of the
majestic Hudson to hail the return
ing ships.
At New York. the overseas fleet
found awaiting 10 greet it great bat
tleships of the home fleet and many
swift, gaunt destroyers which have
been doing convoy and patrol duty
in American waters during the war
This home feet was during the
night anchored in the Hudson.
At the Statute of Liberty, to the
west of the main channel, was sta
toned the Presidential yacht May
flower, carrying Secretary Daniels.
who arrived here last night from
Washington for the review. Abroad
were other members of the cabinet
army and naval officers of high
rank and other distinguished guests
Behind the Mayfiower was an
chored the Aztec, hearing Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt, the naval COM
mittees of Senate and House, Rear
Admiral Burrage and foreign mill
tary and naval officers. In line with
the Aztec were the naval press boat
Zarifa and several other steamers
carrying city officials and their
guests.
The Arizona reached the May
flower at about 10 o'clock. AS each
vessel passed the secretary's ship, 1t
fired nineteen guns in Mr.. Daniels
honor. The Mayfiower roared its
reply.
Admiral Mayo's flagship, the
Pennsylvania, was preceded. besides
the Arizona, by the Oklahoma, Ne
vada and Utah. Then followed the
New York, Texas, Arkansas, Wyom-
ing and Florida. In this order they
anchored a line six miles long,
stretching from 5Sth to 175th
street.
The Mayfiower circled the entire
fleet. reviewing it at anchorage. The
salutes were repeated and from each
craft came the strains of the Star
Spangled Banner" played by the
ships band.
The Mayfiower then anchored at
the foot of 92nd street and Secre-
tary Daniels received Admiral Mayo
and the commanding officers of the
various ships, who came alongside
in their launches.
Meanwhile contingents from each
ship on the overseas fleet, number
ing 10000 men in all, debarked for
New York's first post war parade
Through streets gaily decorated
with flags and bunting. the sailors
proceeded along Broadway to seth
street, crossed to Fifth avenue and
marched down that historic thor
oughfare under tlie arch of victory
at Madison Square. At 23rd street.
the column turned toward the Hud-
son river, embarking for the vari-
Gus ships.
This evening each ship will be
outlined brilliantly with strings OF
electric lights. Every turret, heavy
Gun ond mast will stand ouf in a
blaze of light, and the name of each
vessel will be spelled out in colors
The flagsh!ps will carry pennents
of blue bulbs, with their correct
designations in silver StayA-