The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-12-27
q Great Warships in Holiday
Attire
HOSTS OF SMALL CRAFT
Secretary Of Navy Daniels and secre-
tary Of War Baker Witness the
Wonderful Spectacle.


were 21 superdreadnoughts, dread
noughts and ships of the line which,
with cruisers, destroyers and host
Of smaller craft, made the mightiest
American armada ever assembled.
Ten of the floating fortresses steamed
into the harbor yesterday after
months service overseas with Beat
TVS grand heet. The others are the
flower OF the north Atlantic fleet.
Grim guardians of a great nation,
they symbolized that the United
States has become the second naval
power Of the world
Moving al only 10 knots an hour
the Arizona was the first dreaduought
to pass the presidential yacht May
flower, on whose bridge stood Mr.
Daniels and Secretary OF War Baker
With large flags masted, sailors and
marines manning the rails, the
Arizona swept by stripped for action
As she came abreast the Mayfower
she Numbered the salute OF 10 guns
for the secretary OF the navy and her
band struck up "The Star Spangled
Banner A moment and she had
faded again into the mist, leaving on
ly an impression OF great gray sides
and massive gun turrets crested with
snow.
The Arizona's guns had not finished
uoln a ush la hn-
ban firing and from then ON the roar
of the salutlng guns was continuous.
When the last dreadnought had
steamed from sight. Secretaries Dan
iels and Ba.'er descended from the
bridge. but only for while. While
the Mayhower remained at anchor to
give the incoming warships time to
reach their berths in the Hudson be-
fore Secretary Daniels inspected the
entire feet at their anchorages. the
British transport Saxonia, loaded with
sick and wounded American troops,
hove alongside. The heads OF the
navy and war departments again as
cended TO the bridge and DOTTED their
hats TO the fighting men.
Then. getting under way the May.
flower moved along with the trans
port. and after a sailor had wig
wagged TO the large vessel the com
pliments of both secretaries, the
yachts band played The Star
Spangled Banner" Instantly those
aboard the Saxonia who were able tc
stand, came to attention and then. al
the end OF the anthem, broke into q
prolonged cheer
II was stern array of ships, de
spite the splendor of the flags Will
which they We're decorated. All the
battleships wore coats of sinister
gray while destroyers and auxiliarie.
bore the fantastic touch of the camou
tleuf.
Exclusive OF all except battleships
the tonnage of the fighting craft nov
in the Hudson amounts to 424,S22
The 10 homecoming craft had a ton
mage of 26S,0O0 Not counting gun
OF smaller oaliber, the battleship
alone carry a total of So l4-inch guns
20 l3-inch guns and 56 l2.inch guns
The Mississippi. New Mexico and 9th
er dreadnoughts made the battleship
which were the last word in naval al
chitecture only few years ago, seer
puny craft, huge as they are.
In inspecting the vessels the May
| flower made run OF nearly 10 mile
I before she finally dropped anchor a
, the berth she had left in the morning
> Immediately she was surrounded
5 a feet of gigs bearing admirals, vic'
- admirals, rear-admirals and captain
G to pay their respects to Secretar
Daniels and Vive.Admiral A. v
6 Grant of the home feet who arrange
s the days program.
S Last night remarkable spectacl
was staged on the Hudson. Each shi
l was brilliantly illuminated with ele
Z trio lights, making the river a sc
l OF fire for more than six miles. I'll
l. New York shore was ablaze with r
man candles set in place by the city
committee of welcome, and overhea
D hurst thousands Of rnckets