The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-04-17
lO3 SHIPS IN GREAT
AMERICAN ARMADA
U. S. Victory Fleet Returns From
War Service.
FLYERS GREET BIG VESSELS
Scores OF Planes and Flotllla OF De-
stroyers Escort Ships Back Home
imposing Reception rendered
In New York Harbor.

III NOW IOIN FIdTpoT.
New York. April 15.-The Atlantic
fleet, comprising in ships and tonnage
the greater part Of the Victory Ar
mazda" ordered here to give 10000
sailors and marines vacation on
home shores, steamed into New York
harbor.
With Its arrival the greatest as
semblage OF war craft ever seen in an
American port-103 vessels-rode at
anchor in the North river and almost
Immediately launches started shore
ward with the first contingent of Off
GERS and men on leave
Preceded by flotilla of 30 destroy
ers, 13 superdreadnnughts - the
teeth" Of the fighting tleet-entered
Ambrose channel shortly before noon,
the Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyom-
ing leading. and close in their wake
the Pennsylvania, flying the flag Of Adj
miral Mayo, commander OF the fleet
and ranking officer of the units as
sembed here from two oceans.
AS the feet came into port, division
after division was met by squadrons
of naval airplanes, their wings flash
ing In the brilliant spring sunshine,
their engines humming n noisy greet
Ing as they looped and swooped above
the slowly steaming watercraft.
Most Picturesque Harbor.
The spectacle, naval and aerial, was
described as the most picturesque in
the harbor's history. II began shortly
after ten o'clock. when the first divi-
sion of destroyers appeared in Amerl-
can territorial waters, and continued
we'll into the afternoon, when the last
Of the auxiliary vessels, following the
fighting ships, were anchored.
Scores of airplanes, flown here from
all the nearby naval aviation stations,
took advantage of the perfect wealth
or and the bluejacket spectators to
perform some Of their choicest feats.
They met the incoming vessels far at
sea and plotted them the entire length
OF the harbOr while vessels Of all ma
tionalities Joined in the almost cOntin-
uOus salute Of whistles.
The destroyers, with 30 already in
port, made up a iotilla of 80 while
the bnttleships, with the cruiser Co
lumbia and a number OF auxiliary and
''mOther ships" sent the strength Of
the visiting armada beyond the 100
mark.
With British Grand Fleet.
OF the dreadnaughts the New York,
Texas, Arkansas, Wyoming, Florida
and Delaware saw service with Rear
Admiral ROdman as a division Of the
British grand feet operating In the
| North sea, while the Utah. Nevada
! and Oklahoma crulsed In continental
waters throughout the war. The Penn
sylvania was used as Admiral MayOs
flagship and the Arizona reached Eu-
rope just after the armistice was
signed. while the Mississippi and North
Dakota were on duty In American wa
tiers.
An admlral's salute was fired by the
guardship Amphitrite as the Pennsyl-
vania came abreast. In addition TO
the admiral's, three rear admiral flags
those Of Rodman, Eberle and Coonts
were flown from the main trucks Of
the New York, Utah and Wyoming re-
spectively.
sailors and marines dressed ship
as the fleet passed up the river, bands
played aboard the war craft and thou
sands of New Workers. and Jerseyites
crowdIng piers and the windows of Of
fee buildings on both sides Of the
stream. watched the procession.
Join Pacific Squadron.
Arriving at their nnchornges, the
units Of the Atlantic fleet Joined the
cruisers OF the Pacific squadron,
which reached port last week In com
mand Of Admiral Caperton.
For the officers and men Of the com
bned armada the New York agencies
of the seven leading war-work organl-
cations have arranged II continuous
program Of sightseeing thentergolng
dances, dinners and other forms Of
entertainments. intended 10 I'M every
moment Of more than 10000 shore
leaves. which will be granted as HI
orally as regulations governing the
manning Of anchored vessels will per-
nit.
Several OF the destroyers arriving
have one or more submarines 10 their
credit. one Of them the U. S. S. Chs
sin, bears the scars Of an attacking
submarine, and another, the u. S. s..
Manly, still shows the effects Of ex-
podlng depth bombs which went off
when II c0llided with another boat In