Arizona republican., 1918-12-27
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Riding at anchor in the Hudson tonight were 2l superdreadnaughts dreadnaughts and ships of the line, which with cruisers, destroyers and a host of smaller craft made the mightiest American armada ever assembled. Ten of the floating Actresses steamed into the harbor to- day after IS months service overseas with Beatty's grand fleet The others are the flower of the North Atlantic fleet. Grim guardians of great na- tion, they symbolized that the United States has become the second naval power of the world.
 In. the teeth of a northwestern in the chilli of a driving snowstorm, millions waited hours until the ten battleships of the homecoming armada appeared. This was New York's and the nations tribute to the ships. for more eloquent than the greatest din of whistles bells and human voices. The vocal welcome came later when the rugged, weather beaten tars woh manned the ships de- parked and. with Secretary Daniels and Admiral Mayo at their head, marched down Fifth avenue in the countrys first great victory parade.
 Wounded Lead Cheering
 Leading civilians in the cheering
 
 France. With the memory of their own first anxious voyage still fresh in their minds, they paid unstinted trib- ute to brothers in arms who had guarded them across the Atlantic.
 Passing in review before the secre- tary of the navy, off the Statue of Liberty, the homecoming ships loomed suddenly out of the mist and as rapidly disappeare1 They seemer 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
 Moving at only ten knots an hour, the Arizona was the first dreadnaught to pass the presidential yacht May flower, on whose bridge stood MT. Daniels and Secretary of War Baker. With flags master, sailors and ma rines manning the rails the Arizona swept by, stripped for action. As she came abreast the Mayflower she thun- dered the salute of 19 guns for the secretary of the navy, and her band struck up Star Spangled Banner" A moment later she had faded again into mist, leaving only an impression of great gray sides and massive gun tur- rets crested with snow.
 Arizona Salutes First
 The Arizona's guns had not finished their salute when the Oklahoma began firing. and from then on the cannonad- ing was continuous. In swift success sion. followed the Nevada and the Utah, flagship of Rear Admiral Thom- as $. Rogers, and then the super dreadnaught, Pepnsylvania, bearing Admiral Henry Y. Mayo, commander in-chief of the Atlantic fleet. At two minute intervals came the New York flying the flag of Rear Admiral Hugf Rodman, and the Texas, Arkansas Wyoming and Florida, with two kite balloons, lowed by destroyers, com pleting the procession.
 The New York was the first of th' battleships to display from her mair mast the homeward bound pennant,' a long slender strand of red, white ant blue.
 All the ships which followed her car ried the pennants.
 A deep silence followed the last sa lute and so accustomed had these or the Mayflower become to the roar o the guns, that it seemed hardly possible that the review had lasted less thar twenty minutes.
 When the last dreadnaught haC
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