The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-13
GREATEST U.
FLEET ARRIVES
HERE TUESDAY
City to Greet Armada That
Smashed German Sea
Hopes.
$4,000 HEROES ABOARD
Destroyers Did Brilliant Work
Despite Hardships of Long
Vigils cover There"


more than 100 strong, headed by the
u. 8. s. Pennsylvania flying the broad
pennant Of Admiral Henry r Mayo. will
enter the harbor at 10 o'clock Tuesday
morning and furnish the inhabitants Of
this city with the spectacle OF the great
est array OF war vessels ever assembled
under the American flag. excelled in ton
mai e and gun power only by the British
battle fleet during the great war. Be-
sides the Pennsylvania the Atlantic feet,
as it is officially known. comprises seven
superdreadnoughts and more than eighty
destroyers, with the necessary tenders
and supply vessels, the whole manned by
over 10000 seamen and marines.
The American gobs were disappointed
because they did not get a chance to
test themselves and their fleet against
the Germans and the British are dis
appointed because the American fleet
came over. for they too wished to test
themselves. and the arrival of the Amer
leans discouraged any idea that the Ger
mans may have entertained prior to
their arrival, o. coming into the open
and "fghting II out"
Sir David Beatty. commander in chief
of the British Grand Fleet, said OF the
arrival OF the American fleet in bidding
II good-by recently:
81 was sorry TO see the Sixth Battle
Squadron come over, because up until
that time the feeling in naval circles
was that the chances for major action
with the enemy was slight. After the
arrival of the Sixth Battle Squadron we
felt that they were practically NIL"
Bcatty's Praise Is Pri1ed.
This statement of Sir David is the
only consolation that the sailors have
for not seeing action with the enemy.
But they prize II very much. however,
for Sir David implies. as they interpret
II. that it was all Off with Germany
when we came overland they knew 1t
and wouldn't take a chance"
But these self sams gobs had the
satisfaction of seeing 'vhe German fleet
surrender, even II they didn't get
shot at any of their vessels after man.
ming the guns constantly and patrollng
for them during their entire time in
European waters. The Navy Depart
ment in a history 1t has prepared of the
fleet expresses the sailors dsappoint-
ment
"Doughboys return with decorations
for gallantry in action" it says, while
the sailor steams back to his country
with the sincere regret that there came
no chance for action. His only gratifi-
cation comes from the statement of the
British Admiral who assured the Amer
ican feet that their presence so threat
ened the chances of a German sea tri-
umph that the enemy ships were afraid
10 take to the open"
How necessary the American men OF
war were to the safety OF operations Is
indicated by the orders under which the
ships operated. During the twelve
months through which the American
feet was in the war zone with the
British grand fleet the ships were never.
with one or two exceptions given more
than four hours in port. great many
times orders came calling the ships to
sea again within two and a half hours
after docking for supplies and over
hauling. The expectation for immediate
notice for eteam-a naval expression
meaning to shove off-cut down all shore
leave to two hours. and lucky was the
man who drew that much liberty time.
Every minute of the day and night the
ships were required to be ready for i'm
mediate action with the enemy. No
matter to what point the ships were
ordered war time watch was maintained
from the decks and the gun crews were
standing by" for battle. Decks were
always cleared for action.
Yanks on Duty Always.
During the routine around the ports
There was always one or more squadrons
OF the fleet at sea on patrol OF convoy
duty. and the American squadron took
its turn at these duties in regular rota-
ton with all the squadrons OF the Meet.
Even moro difficult we're the duties
OF the destroyers. These smaller ships
were kept constantly on the go. answer
ing calls of distress from ships I'M
perilled at sea, bringing In the scores
OF American transports darting In ana
out of the Irish coast In search or SUP
marines whose activities-reai and
imagined-were being reported con-
Ktantly to the naval bases.
After hard trip through one 7f the
winter storms on convoy duty these
destroyers were expected TO repair to
one of the English ports for over
hauling. seldom was this work finished,
however before a call for help would
come from one OF the I'-boat infested
areas The destroyer which succeeded
in coaling up and washing down the
decks before another order to put out
10 sea reached il was considered lucky,
an great was the demand for the midget
shlps which baffled the submarines.
Sailors aboard these smaller craft had
10 put up with suffering and incon-
veniences which were undreamed p
aboard the heavier men o war. The
waves which came with the storms
about at Will. and the men on constant
watch aboard we're forced always TO
lash themselves TO their decks. Heavy
~oollen underwear. wind and rain proof
trousers and jackets and heavy rubber
or leather sea boots was the prescribed
uniform for destroyer duty.
Cold soup Called Luxury.
While the sailors aboard the big ships
IN m trhnu'
comfortable mess halls. the 'gpbs" doing
duty with the chasers would snatch
cold bit OF meat from can. drink
Gun OF cold coffee, which had been boiled
before the ship set sail, and call II
good meal. Cold soup--also in cans
was a luxury allowed every now and
then
No man aboard the destroyers was al
lowed TO sleep more than four hours at
stretch. The wartime watches through day
hours on" day In and day out No