Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-26
AMERICAN BATTLE
SQUADRON RETURNS
Dreadnoughts, Back From War,
Will Steam Into New York
Harbor To-Day.
PENNSYLVANIA LEADS FLEET
Capital Ships Under Admiral
Mayo Cast Anchor Off
Sandy Hook.
PENNSYLVANIA LEADS FLEET

NEW YORK. December 25.-Ten
great battleshiDs, the vanguard OF
Americas s overseas armada. returning
10 nome shores after eighteen months
service in European waters, dropped
ahchoi this afternoon off Sandy Hook.
! Taey viii enter the harbor tomorrow
In triumphal procession, and, under
the shadow OF liberty's statue pass in
review before Secretary Daniels
These titans OF the sea leading
smaller craft in the race for the home
/! land reached Ambrose channel light
Shir at o'clock this afternoon. They
were headed by the super r-Dreadnoucht hit
Pennsylvania. which. with Admira!
Henry I: Mayo aboard. conveyed Presi-
dent Wilson'S ship to the coast oi
The first word that the battle fee,
was about to enter home waters was
received here shortly after midnigh,
to-day when the Dispatch. the yach,
from whose mas; now flies the nag
OF Vice Admiral a w Grant. picked
up WireiesS message from the Penn.
ADMIRAL Mayo. the commander-iIi
chief. expressed to .he officers ano
men OF the home feet the Christmas
greetings OF thousands of sailors re
turning from war duty.
y few minutes later the radio an.
naraius on the Dispatch cracked out
this message:
The commander of battle force No
ana the officers and men OF battle
iorcc NO. ] sincerely appreciate tho
seasons greetings received from the
oinmander- chief. In return the
commander or battle force No and
the officers and men OF his command
wish a merry Christmas and hanny
New Year 20 the home coming oversea,
forces"
VESSELS ORDERED TO
DELAY TIME OF ARRIVAI
N9iwithstanding the dextrcycrs anl
! small craft which left for home with
! theni. the ten batt!cships reported by
wireless two days ago that they co,Ild
steam into New York Christmas Day
They were ordered however 10 .,on r,
for Thursday. p''"''e'
Eut loaf" as they might. the great
eraIt could not forever put off the
moment when they would reach these
| shores; and this afternoon they came
20 anchor about forty miles from Bat
tery Park. Al once two ocean tugs
,oaned ,or. 20 me rail with Christmas let
.eIs' raced down to Ambrose channel
ana delivering their cargo. added =
real touch of home to a Ch-istm,s
spsn' on me seas with New York al
resides the Pennsylvania. the fee.
Sso2mprises the New York. flagship O,
aiHision p No. ?, with Nice-Admiral Hugf
Tu.h' Eiorida me ,TieNas. Nevada, Arkansas
NO. =; the Utah. flagship of divisior
no. b. with Vice Admiral Thonoa {.
rodgers, and the Oklahoma and Ari.
"oha' oil tha same division
HOME FLEET WILL
WELCOME RETURNINC SHIPS
Al New York the overseas fleet wi,
una awaiting to greet il great hot
l!eships of the home feet and mar,
S"Iit deStroyers which have been do.
ing convoy and patrol duty in America "
waters during the war. ~ = "
AZ the statue OF Liberty 10 the ,rns,
"t the main channel. will be stati"ncT
me me presidential yacht Maynower. carrv-
tonight from Washington for Tho ra.
view Aboard will be Other member
81 me Cabinet. army and naval or-
uccrs or nigh rank and other dis
tinguished guests "'
nshind the Mayhower will he an
secretary Roosevelt. the Naval Com
In,.tees OF the Senate and House: Rcn-
torhlral Burrage and foreign miIitar,.
ana naval officers. In line with tha
SZ.ec Will be the naval press boa,
nr,.h car,.,.; ana several other steamers
Tho nE Nc CITY oihcials and their guests.
Nrizon2 viii reach the MavtIowcr
ah5ut 10 o'clock. according tn an
on,ci:ti announcement Tonight hv VICE
.Nnhiral Grant. AS each vessel nassos
,,, an" srcretary's ship it will fire nineteen
anm:a !" AZ Daniels honor and the May
mower viii roar its reply.
Admiral Mavo's fagship tho p.,rs,.,
.ni.in. ,n;n. VIII be preceded besides tho
Hhl,ona ny the Oklahoma Naval, amd
~ t"n. hen Will follow the New Yorl,
e*ns. Ark' nsas. Wyoming and Floridn
s;, 81, tniS MS order they will anchor. line
eighth TO One Hundred and Savnnts.
fifth Streets anu seventy