The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-05-05
BIG SHIPS RETURN
FROM CUBAN TRIP
Pennsylvania Leads Three Score
Home. Daniels OH Board.

| Home. Daniels OH Board.
New York, May 1.-lHeaded by the
flagship Pennsylvania with the broad
blue flag of the secretary Of the navy
lying at the main masthead nearly
three score ships Of the Atlantic fleet
dropped anchor in the hudson river
today, home from three months of
drills and maneuvers in Cuban waters
Eight great supcrdreadnaught and
Ia swarm OF swift dcStroyers rode
slcepily at their moorings tonight,
fairly filling the river anchorage for
miles, but more than half Of the Of
iccrs and of the sun-buIncd young
stcrs Of the crews were ashore, enjoy
ing is hours of well earned liberty.
| AnCat their comrades gazCd longing
| ly toward the great city, picked out
with imumcrablc lights as darkness
fell. awaiting their turn to play the
role Of Jack ashore.
When the fleet steamed in past
Ambrose Light early i'll the morning
|
highest official Sof the naval service.
Besides Secretary Daniels, who board
| cd the ship off the Virginia capcs yes
tcrday morning for the last lap CT the
chief Of naval operations was a guest
of Admiral Wilson, commanding the
Atlantic feet and senior sea COM
mandcr of the navy. Mr.. Daniels and
! Admiral Coontz stood with Admira!
Wilson on the flagship bridge as the
great sea force made its stately pro-
gress through the crowded harbor and
river to its anchorage.
The secretary had other matters
which called him to New York. and
yesterday was taken aboard the de-
stroycr Goldsborough at the Norfolk
base for swift dash outside the
capcs where the Pennsylvania awaited
him. With her homeward ncnnant
whipping straight aft in the breeze Of
down the sun bathed bay at 80 knot
pace heavy laden cargo craft blow
ing an involuntary salute as she
passed when the stern wave trailing
behind the speeding warship reached
them.
Hardly had Mr.. daniels feet touch
cd the wide white decks Of the flag
ship than she was off southeast
through the sun haze to rcjoin the
fleet l6 miles away. Above circlcd
scaplancs, carrying navy photograph
crs. Far at sea Il silver pencil of light
marked the low flight of a navy "bimp"
out to sec the sight.
AS the miles Slipped behind the bat
tlcship, a row Of bobbing gray knobs
came into view, the submarines OF the
feet. sailing in column, inshore from
the far flung Gordon Of the destroyer
screen. The Pennsylvania passed the
iirtS OF these destroyer scouts and
then on the hazy rim of the world. the
seven other great drcadnaughts steam
ing in double column, came into
view.
AS the Pennsylvania fell into her
to her signal yards. The admiral had
ordered a two hour speed run north
ward. The dcStroycrs lcapcd in from
| their stations on the tanks, rushing
! by the battlcships at high speed to
spread five mile line across the sea
in front Of the main force The bat
tlcships forged into Zine abcam' posi-
ton as the navy knows it, eight great
ships abreast with all the ocean be-
fore them, and another color burst at
the nagship's signal yard started the
race.
For two hours they surged north
ward, the North Dakota, leading the
four coal burners, forged slowly ahead.
She was TO lead OF the smokclcss oil
burners, and the great banks OF black
smoke that poured from the sta
painted mimic storm clouds for miles
against the clear sky astcrn.
The test was OF PERSONAL rather
than ships. The feet went south with
green crews that could not get them
up to more than cruising speed. Three
months later the same engine room
forcs broughB thm back on three
forces brought them back on three
fourths boiler power at 10 knots.
| for the men.
Through the night the fleet steamed
northward in column with the destroy
ers screening its movement on all