Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-27
VICTORY PARADE


Leading civilians In the cheering
were wounded soldiers returned
from France With the memory of
their own first anxious voyage still
fresh in their minds, they paid I'M
stintetl tribute TO brothers in arms
who had guarded them across the
Atlantic.
Passing in review before the Score
tary Of the Navy off the statue of
Liberty the home coming ships
loomed suddenly out Of the mist and
as rapidly disappeared They seemed
almost like phantom craft, grim,
gray, majestic in their silent might.
Eur as they dropped anchor the
skies cleared and they stood revealed
in holiday attire, ablazc from stem
10 stern with muIai-colorcd pen
nants. To many Of those who lined
the shores this fash OF sunshine
symbc,ized the light OF peace which
awaited tho feet after the gloom Of
war from which they had emerged.
Moving at only ten knots an hour the
Arizona was the first dreadnuught t.
pass the Presidential yacht May
flower. on whose bridge stood Mr..
Daniels and Secretary OF War Bak-
or. With flags mastcd. sailors and
marines massin2 the rails the Ari-
IONA swept by stripped for action.
AS she came abreast the MayffoWcr
sh. thundered the salute of ~ guns
for the Secretary of War and her
band struck up THE Star SpanEled
Eanner." a moment only and she
mad faded again into the mist, leav-
cn1y an impression Of great grey
sides and massive gun turccts crest
81 with snow.
The Arizona's guns lad not fin
isi.cd their salute when the Okla
hnma began firing and from then on
TIC roar Of the salutins guns was
continuous. In swift succession
followed the Nevada and the Utah.
flagship Of Rear Admiral Thomas
: Rogers, and then the Supcrdread-
nougit Pennsylvania. bearing Ad-
miral lIcrrr 4. Mayo, commander
iu-chief Of the Atlantic fleet. At
tvo-minute intervals came the New
York. flying the nag Of Rear Ad-
mira. Hugh Rodm"n. and the Texas,
Arkansas. Wyoming ana FLORIDA,
with two kite balloons tOwed by de-
stroyers completing the procession.
The New York was the first of the
battieships 70 display from her main
mast the "hCmcward bound pennant"
4 long slender flag white and blue.
foot for every day out from her home
base. Al the ships which followed
her carried the pennants and II
seemed as IL each were longer than
the others. A deep silence followed
the last salute and SO accustomed had
those on the Mayfower become to
tho roar Of the guns that IL seemed
hardly possible that the review had
lasted less than 20 minutes. When
the last dreadnought had steamed
from sight Secretaries Daniels and
Baker descended from the bridge but
only for Il moment. While the May
flower rena aimed at anchor 10 give the
incoming ships time to reach their
posts in the Hudson before Secretary
Daniels inspected the entire fleet at
their anchorages. the British trans
port Saxonia. loaded with sick and
wounded American troops hove
alongside. The heads of the navy
and war departments again went to
the bridge and DOTTED their hats 10
the fighting men. Then. getting un
dcrway. the Mayfiower moved along
with the transport. and after a sailor
had wigwaSged 10 the larger vessel
the compliments Of both secretaries.
the yachts band played The star
SpanEled Banner" Instantly those
aboard the Saxonia who we're able 10
stand came TO attention and then, at
the end Of tho anthem. broke into
prolonged cheer. In beginning it's