The Sentinel=record., 1918-12-27

New York, Dec. 26-Riding at an
Choir in the Hudson tonighd were
twenty one super drea1noushts,
dreadnouchts, ships OF the line, cruis--
ers, destroyers and a host OF smaller
craft, the mightest American armada
ever assembled. Ten OF the floating
fortresses steamed into the harbor
today after Is months service over
seas, with Beattys grand fleet Tho
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.
In the teeth Of a northwester In the
chill of a driving snow storm, mllsons
waited hours until the ten battlosntFs
! OF the home coming armada appear@J.
=" hisaWas. New -A-nr 5. .~Ad Ila ,I.=A
tion's tribute, to the( ships. taSnore
eloquent than the greatest din of
whistles, belr and human voices.
The vocal welcome came later
when the rueged, weather beaten tars J
who manned the ships. debarRad and,
with Secretary Daniels and AdmiraL
Mayo alt their head, marched dow
Fifth avenue in the country's firHt
great victory parade.
Leading civilians in the cheeHng
were wounded soldiers returned from
France
With the memory of their fir5t anx-
| ious voyage still Vesh in thef mnds.
they paid unst!nted tribute VI broth
ers in arms Who had guarded them
ACROSS the Atlantic.
Passing in review before the SEC
retary OF the navy, before the Statue
Of Liberty, The nome coming ships
loomed suddenly out Of the mist ani
as rapidly disappeared
They seemed almost like phantom
craft grim. gray, majestic in their
silent might But as they dropped
anchor the skies cleared and they
stood revealed in holiday attire,
ablaze from stem to stern with multi
colored pennants.
hbNiHE at OAtg WI hAAbNo uii lOuAS
the Arizona was the first dreadnought
to pass the president al yacht, May
flower, on whose bridge stood Mr.
Daniels and Secretary of War Baker.
With flags masted, sailors and ma
rinss manning the rails, the Arizona
swept by, stripped for action
As she came abreast the Mayflower
she thundered 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 mist, leaving only an impression
OF great gray sides and massive gun
turrets, crested with snow.
The Arizonas guns had not finish
ed their salute when the Oklahoma
| began firing and from then on, the
| cannonading was continuous.
IN swift succession followed the
| Nevada and Utah. flagship Of Rear
Admiral S RODGERS, aud then the au-
perdreadnought Penn ylvaniek bear
| ing AGmial Henry T. Mayo, COM
mender-in-oh el Of the Atlantic fleet.
At two minute intervals came tho
New York thlng the flag OF Rear
Admiral Hugh Rodman. and Tho Tex"
as. Arkansas. Nyomimg and Florida,
with two kite balloons. towed BY des-
troyers. completms the Procession
The New York was the first of the
baueshps 10 display from her main
mas he homeWard buufN bta4
uant" d long slender strand OF rod.
white and blue a foot ter every Gay
out from her home base.
an the shlos witch followed her
carried the paunapta and It seamed
as q aet were lenaer than che alh-
pra
A leep allenee followed lhe las. sa~
ule art - accustomed had Aeas "a
the NeuoWer sDeeHe ta lha roeg
al iha guns tHa g fmvl hAaalS