New-York tribune., 1921-04-29
Reviews Atlantic Fleet
and Addresses Officers ::
Says Country Will Get
All That Belongs to 1t
Wants No Peace at
Cost of Our Honor
Guns Never Will Be
Fired in War; 48 Ships
Present Superb Sight
From q Stuff Correanondent

'~AA>A3A' AAaihp ploii hoauS, va, April 28.
The Atlantic feet swept grandly in
here to-day from Southern waters and
passed in review before the President
of the United States Eleven battle
ships, nineteen destroyers and eighteen
submarines were included in the mag
nificent naval pageant which took an
hour and quarter to pass the Presi-
dental yacht, the Mayflower. The
President and Mrs. Harding, Secretary
of the Navy Dcnby, Admiral Robert E.
Coontz, chief of naval operations; !;
Brigadier General Sawyer and mem
bers of the Senate and House Naval
Affairs Committee witnessed the re-
view.
The day was ideal, the clouds OBJ
scuring the sun sufficiently 70 make it
easy to glimpse the ships from the
time they loomed on the horizon until
they came abreast of the Mayflower.
After the review the President and his
party were conveyed to the flagship
Pennsylvania, where the President and
Secretary DENLY received the officers
of the fleet. The President made a
brief speech to the officers, in which,
among other things, he said:
"The United States does not want
anything on earth not rightfully our
own, no payment or tribute, but we do
want that which is righteously our
own, and by the Eternal we mean to
have it,
81 bid you make our navy the most
efficient, conscientious and effective
navy in the service of any civilized
nation, and I pledge to you in return
the confidence and regard of 10000, 900
people,"
Admiral Presents President
The President addressed the officers
of the fleet standing on hatchway
under the shadow of three huge guns.
Admiral Henry B. Wilson, commander
of the feet, presented the Chief EN-
the President,' and without further
ado the President addressed himself to
the group which surged about him.
"Gentlemen of the navy, there is no
thought in my mind except to express
to you my greetings" he said.
81 am very happy to-day to see this
demonstration of a portion Of the
naval forces of the Republic. 1 am
especially happy to come to you and
to tell you of the interest Of America
in those who stand for it's naval de-
fense. 1t is an embarrassment to ad-
dess you as your commander in chief,
but to-day I am doing as all of you
are doing, following the commands of
Admiral Wilson"
Continuing the President said:
81 wish to tell you how deeply in
terested and thoroughly confident
America is in you. America will never
ask anything of you that isn't in per-
feet accord with the best conscience
of the freest people on the face of
the earth | have every confidence that
you love and breathe the spirit of the
Republic"
The Presidents voice was low and
earnest and the clean cut looking
throng of officers gathered closer in
order to hear every word
Wants No Peace Without Honor
of Defense" continued the President.
81 wish you might never be compelled
to fire gun in war, and | believe that
If every government on earth were i'm
PEELED by the same motives as our gov
ernment this world would be at peace
forever, starting with to-day. But
wouldn't want peace without honor.
wouldn't want peace without the con-
sciousness that America is doing right
and protecting her citizenship in the
most effective way
"Officers of the navy, bid you make
ours the most efficient, conscientious
and effective navy in the service of any
civilized nation, and l pledge to you
in return the confidence and regard of
one hundred and ten million people
| want to join with you in providing
for. our country righteous. just and
unfailing defense, and to that program
every patriotic American can unfail-
ingly subscribe"
The Mayfower dropped anchor off
Thimble Light early this morning. The
Atlantic fleet lay outside Hampton
Roads last night, having arrived from
Guantanamo on schedule time. The
Corsair, of New York, ]. p. Morgan's
yacht, took up a position not far from
the Mayflower, from which it's occu-
pants reviewed the fleet. The Secre-
tary of the Navy's yacht, the Sylph,
Continued on page sIx)