Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-26
ARMADA BACK
FROM north
SEA WAR DUTY
Continued From Page One.)

SIlpS, lSu ny tlC ElLZold, ShtSl D
the narrows tomorrow morning and
moves to the anchorage berths in
the Hudson, it will be escorted by
an aerial fleet of Fl seaplanes and
two dirigibles from the naval air
station at Rockaway.
Besides these aircraft, lowering
overhead, the giant battleships will
be accompanied by three kite bal
looms. One, towed by the Glouces-
ter and flying at a height of 800
feet, will move nearly mile ahead
of the Arizona, while behind the
Florida, the last ship in line, will be
towed the other two.
Residents of every hamlet facing
on New York bay tonight are eager
ly awaiting their opportunity of be-
ing first to salute the homecoming
armada.
Every factory whistle for miles
around received a final inspection,
so that they should not fail to speak
their welcome. 1t is expected that
not a square foot of soil on the
heights of Brooklyn or Staten Is
land will be vacant while millions
will throng both banks >of the Hud-
son to hail the returning ships as
they come to anchor.
Home Fleet in Waiting.
At New York the overseas feet
will find waiting to greet it great
battleships of the home fleet and
many swift destroyers, which have
been doing convoy and patrol duty
in American waters during the war.
This home feet tonight is anchored
in the Hudson.
At the Statue of Liberty to the
west of the main channel will be
stationed the presidential yacht.
Mayhower, carrying Secretary Dan
iels, who arrived here tonight from
Washington for the review. Aboard
will be other members of the cab
met, army and naval officers of high
rank and other distinguished guests.
Behind the Mayfower will be an
chored the Aztec, bearing Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt, the naval COM
mittees of the senate and house,
rear admirals and foreign military
and naval officers. In line with the
Aztec will be the naval press boat,
Xarifa, and several other steamers,
carrying city officials and their
guests.
The Arizona will reach the May
flower at about 10 o'clock, according
to an official announcement tonight
by Vice Admiral Grant. As each
vessel passes the secretary's ship.
it will fire 10 guns in Mr.. Daniels
honor and the Mayhower will roar
its reply.
Admiral Mayo's flagship, the
Pennsylvania, will be preceded by
the Oklahoma, Nevada and Utah,
besides the Arizona. Then will fol-
low the New York, Texas, Arkansas,
Wyoming and Florida. In this order
they will anchor, a line six miles
long. stretching from Fifty-eighth
to One Hundred and Seventy-ffth
streets.
MayHower to Circle Fleet.
Then the fleet will full dress
ship" with the men lining the rails
and brilliant colored remnants, float
ing from lanyards, run to the mast
heads. The Mayflower will circle
the entire feet, reviewing it at an
chorage. The salutes will be re-
peated and from each craft will
come the strains of the "Star Spang-
led Banner" played by the ships
band.
The MayAower will then anchor
at the foot of Ninety-second street
and Secretary Daniels will receive
Admiral Mayo and the commanding
officers of the various ships, who
will come alongside in their
launches.
Meanwhile contingents from each
ship Of the overseas feet, num-
bering 10000 men in all, will de-
bark for New York's first postwar
parade. Through streets gayly
decorated with flags and bunting the
sailors will proceed along Broad
way to Fifty-ninth street, across to
Fifth avenue and march down that
historic thoroughfare under the
arch of victory at Madison Square.
At Twenty-third street the column
will turn toward the Hudson river.
embarking for the various ships.
At dusk each ship will be out
lined brilliantly with strings of cleo
trio lights. Every turret, heavy gun
and mast will stand out in blaze of
light and the name of each vessel
will be spelled out in colors. The
flagships will carry pennants of blue
bulbs, with their correct designa-
tons in silver stars.
Daniels Heads Reviewing Party
Washington, Dec. 25.-Secretary
Daniels, accompanied by Secretaries
Baker and Houston, General March,
chief of staff, and Joseph P. TIL
multy, secretary to the president,
left tonight for New York, where to-
morrow Mr.. Daniels will review the
homecoming warships which have
been on duty in the war zone.
Upon their arrived in New York
early tomorrow morning Mr.. Dam
iels and his guests will go directly
aboard the presidential yacht May
flower, which then will steam down
the harbor to the Statue of Liberty,
where it will anchor for the re-
view. In the afternoon Mr.. Daniels
will receive Admiral Mayo, COM
mander of the Atlantic fleet, and
the officers of the homecoming
squadrons, aboard the Mayflower.