Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-26
VANGUARD IN
 TR|UMPHA|L
 PROCESSION
10 Great Battleships Drops Anchor Off Sandy Hook; Pass Under Statue To- morrow.

New York, Dec. 25.--Ten great hattleships, the vanguard of Anlcli- cas returning overseas armade, drop ned anchor this. afternoon off San ly Hook. They will enter the harbor ;o- morrow in triumphal procession, and under the shadow of Liberty's statue. mass in review before Secretary Dam l iels.
 The titans of the sea, leading SCOT es Of smaller craft in the race for the homeland, were headed by the 1 superdreadnaught Pennsylvania which with Admiral Henry T. Mayo aboard conveyed President Wilson's ship to the coast of France. The first word from the battle fleet early today was received here when the dispatch yacht from whose mast flies the flag of Vice Admiral A. ". Grant, picked up a wireless message signed by Admiral Mayo. the com mander in chief, expressing to the of ficers and men of the fleet the Christmas greetings of thousands of sailors returning from war duty. A few minutes later the radio ap- paratus on the dispatch yacht crack led out this message:
 "The commander of battle force number 1 and the officers and the men of battle force number 1, sin cerely appreciate seasonal greetings : fro mthe commander in chief. In re- l from the commander in chief. In re- number 1 and the officers and men of l his command wish a merry Christmas and happy new wear 10 the home coming overseas forces"
 0ut-distancing the destroyers and smaller craft which left for home with them. the ten battleships report ed bv wireless two days aoo that they could steam into New York on Christ mas day They were ordered, howev- CT, to loaf alonn as their recep- ticn was planned for Thursday.
 But loaf as they might tho qreat craft could not forever put off the moment when they would roach these shores. and this afternoon they came to anchor about 40 niles from Battery Park. At once two ocean | tugs loaded to the rail with Christ mas letters, raced down to Ambrose channel, and delivering their cargo, added a real touch of home to a Chhstmas spent on the sea with New Y""k almost in sight
 Beside the Pennsvlvania. the fleet comnrises the New York flagship of division g. with Vice Admiral Hugh Rodman: the Texas. Nevada. Arkan- sas: Florida and Wyoming all of di- visioh number 9: the Utah, flaoshin of division six. with Vice Admiral Thomas D. Rodgers. and the Oklaho-
 At the Statue of Liberty, to the west of the main channel, will be stationed the presidential yacht Mayflower car | Tying Secretary Daniels who arrived here tonight from Washington for the review. Aboard will be other members ol the cabinet, army and navy officers or high rank, and other distinguished guests.
 Behind the Mayflower will be an ehored the Aztec, bearing Assistant secretary Roosevelt, the naval com mlttees of the senate and house, and Rear Admiral Burrage, and foreign
 
 With the Aztec will be the naval press boat Xariafe and several other steam CTS carrying city officials and their guests.
 The Arizona will reach the May llower at about 10 o'clock, according ,o ,n an official announcement tonight by wee Admiral. Grant. AS each vessel passes the secretary's ship, it will fire " guns in Mir. Daniels honor and he Mayflower will roar it's reply.
 When the long column of fighting ssalps, led by the Arizona, enters the NATIONS tomorrow morning ant moves to the anchorage berths in the Hudson. it will be escorted by an aer' ial fleet of 21 seaplanes and two dlrlgbles from the naval air station at Rockaway.
 The giant battleships also will be accompanied by three kite balloons ohe, lowed by the Gloucester and fly lhs at height of 800 feet, will move nearly mile ahead of the Arizona while behind the Florida, the last shil line, will be lowed by the othel
 
 Every factory whistle for mile around received final inspection. s'
 mat they should not fail to speak thei welcome. Millions will throng botl uanks of the Hudson to hail the re turning ships as they come to anchor Al New York the overseas fleet VII ma awaiting to greet it great battle ssnlps of the home fleet and many swif uestroyers which have been doing con soy and patrol duty in American wa ,ers during the war. Ths home flee tonight anchored in the Hudson. Admiral Mayo's flagship, the Penn syivania, will be preceded, besides tn arizona, by the Oklahoma, Nevad ana Utah. Then will follow the Ne' sork. Texas, Arkansas, Wyoming an
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