New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-12-17
AMERICAN FLEET IS
DUE HOME SUNDAY
10 Dreadnougbts and 20 Destroy
ers in Big Naval Pageant

New York. Dec. 17.-The ten dread
noughts and 20 destroyers which were
included in the American naval forces
that orerated in European waters
during the wal are expected to arrive
in New York sometime next Sunday.
They viii Immediately steam to an
chorages in the North River. and the
sailors will then begin stringing them
with electric wires in preparation for
what is expected to be the most beau
:iful electrical picture ever seen in
American waters. The great cam ou-
tagged dreadnOughts will be outlined
in electric lights every night during
the stay in New York waters, the diff
ferent ships being indicated by huge
electrical numbers which will be dis
played on both sides of each vessel
1t was stated in Washington, Satur-
day, that every turret, mast and gun
will be outlined in electricity, the flag
ships being indicated by the pennants,
which will be shown in colors. For
instance, the flagship PENNSYLVANIA
will display an Illuminated pennant
with a blue field and four glittering
stars. The f1agships of Rear Admirals
Rodman and Rodgers will be indi-
Gated by remnants which will show
two silver stars. The dreadnoughts
which have been on overseas duty will
have the places of honor in the great
naval lineup, and will extend in sin
gle column from point about OPP
posite Seventy ninth street to north Of
Grants Tomb, probably off 135th
street. The destroyers will be in po-
sition on either side Of the dread
nought column.
The flagship New York, which was
the flagship Of the American division
in the Grand Fleet under Sir David
Beatty, will probably anchor between
Seventy ninth and Eighty ninth
streets. This is the ship that would
have led the American column had
the Germans come out to fight instead
of to surrender. The other dread
noughts under Rodman will be the
Nevada, Arkansas, Wyoming, Florida
and Texas. Under Rodgers will be the
dreadnoughts Oklahoma, Arizona and
Utah.
In the welcoming fleet of battle
ships cruisers and other war vessels
will be the dreadnoughts New Mexico,
Mississippi, Delaware, North Dakota,
South Carolina and Michigan. as well
as a number of vessels Of the pre-
dreadnought type. The New Mexico
and Mississippi are new ships re-
Gently commissioned, and are the
most powerful of their type af1oat.
They are also the first electrically
propelled vessels in any navy. The
dreadnought tonnage which will be
in the North river next Monday morn
ing will total about 400, 900 tons.
The twenty destroyers which are
coming from overseas will be Joined
by about the same mum Der that nave
been in service in home waters. Only
about one-third of the destroyers OF
the overseas service are coming home
at this time. Among the welcoming
destroyers will be many of the newest
type, which We're recently commits
stoned and which We're ready to pro-
coed overseas when the arnistice was
signed. The cruiser and transport
fleet, under Vice Admiral Gleaves,
will also have a place of honor in the
great North river pageant, as will also
a large number Of vessels of the aux
iliary and reserve forces.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels
will arrive IN New York early next
Monday morning to review the fleet
and welcome In behalf of the gov
eminent Admirals Rodman and
Rodgers and the officers and meE