The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-26
BAT TZE5H|PS
ARRIVE FROM
THE WAR ZONE
ALL IN READINESS
FOR GREAT REVIEW
Greatest Naval and Military
Spectacle in History Of
American Nation.

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Tcn great bat
tIcships the vanguard of Americas
overseas armada. returning to homo
shores after Is months service in Euro
pcan waters. dropped anchor this after
noon off Sandy Hook. They will enter
the harbor Tomorrow in triumphal pro-
ceSson and, under the shadow OF Lib
erty's statue. pass in review before
Secretary Daniels. These Tltans OF the
sea. leading scores Of small craft in the
race for the homeland. reached Ambrose
channel lirhtshp nj 3 o'clock this aft
crroon. They were headed by tho
superintendent Pennsylvania, which,
with Admiral Henry 7. Mayo aboard.
convoycd President Wilson's ship to the
coast of France.
Messages Exchanged.
The first wGrd that the battle fleet
WAS about TO enter homo waters was re-
ccivcd here shortly after midnight to-
day. when The Despatch. the yacht from
whose mast now flies ihc. flag Of Ftco
ADMIRAL 4. W. Grant. picked up wire
loss message from the Pennsylvania.
This message signed by Admiral Mayo,
tho commandrr-in-chief. expressed to
the officers and men Of the home feet
tn" Christmas greetings Of thousands OF
sailorme+l returning from war duty.
4 few minutes later the radio appara-
tus on the Despatch cracked out this
message.
The commander IF hattie force No.
and th" officers and men Of battle force
No. !. sincerely appreciate the seasonal
greetings received from the commander
in-chicf. In return. the commander OF
battle force No. ! and tho officers ano
mon OF his command wish Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to tho
homecoming overseas forces.
Ordered to Loaf.
Understanding the destroycrs and
smaller craft which left for home with
them. the IN hattlcshirs reported by
wireless two days ago that they could
stcam into Now York on Christmas day.
They were ordered. however, TO "loaf'
along. -as their reception was planncc
for Thursday.
Eut loaf" as they might. the great
craft could NOT forever put off the mo-
ment when they would reach thcsf
shores. and this afternoon they came u
anchor about 40 miles from Batter3
Park At once two ocean tugs. loaded
To the rail with Christmas letters. raced
down to Ambrose channel and. deliver
ing their cargo. added n real touch oil
home To j Christmas spent on the sea
with New York almost in sight.
Resides the Pennsylvania. tho fleet
cornrriscs the Ncw York, flagship or
Division No. .. with Vice Admiral Hugh
EoGman; the Texas. Nevada, Arkansas
Florida end Wyoming. all Of Division .;
the Utah, flagship OF Division s. with
Vice Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers, and
the Oklahoma and Arizona, OF the same
division.
To New York falls the honor o. ac'
claiming for tho whole nation the home
coming fleet and II is predicted. that the
review and land parade tomorrow Will
go down rs the greatest spectacle OF Its
Kind this half Of the world has ever
known.
With Aerial Escort.
When the long column Of fShtins
ships, led by the Arizona, enters the
Narrows tomorrow morning and moves
to the anchorage bcrths in the Hud-
SON, il will be escorted by an aerial
fleet OF twcnty-Onc scaplancs and two
dirisiblrs from the naval air station nj
Rockaway.
Besides these aircraft. lowering over
head. the giant battlcships will be ac:
companicd by three kite balloons. One
lowed by the Gloucester. and flying AT
n height of 500 feet. will move nearly
Il mile ahead OF the Arizona. while BE-
hind the Florida. the last ship in 'linc.
will be towed the other two.
Residents OF every hamlet facing on
New York bay are tonight eagerly
awaiting their opportunity Of being the
first to salute the homecoming armada.
Every factory whistle for miles around
received q final inspection. so that thy
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