The Washington times., 1921-04-28
HARDING SEES
FLEET PARADE
New Commander lin Chief Of
Navy Reviews Giant Atlantic
Group at Hampton Roads.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.
International News Service.


ABOARD THE PRESIDENTIAL
YACHT MAYFLOWER. OFF
THIMBLE LIGHT, Hampton Roads,
Va, April 2s.-Grim and hardy look
ing from the weeks spent in strenu-
Gus war maneuvers in Southern wat
ers the great Atlantic fleet swung
majestically in review through
Hampton Roads today before Presi-
dent Harding, the new Commander
in Chief Of the Nations armed
forces. The fleet started into Hamp-
ton Roads at $3.50 this morning aft
er riding over northeast gale off
the Virginia capes last night.
FIFTY wARsHIPs IN LINE.
Half a hundred warships, headed
by the super r-dreadnought Pennsyl-
vania, one OF the greatest of her
class afioat, made up the long line of
steel which steamed up the Roads
and slowly past the trim little May
flower, from which the President and
his party viewed the magnificent spec
tacIe. The Pennsylvania. also is the
flagship of the fleet and bore Admiral
Henry Il. ("Tug) Wilson. tho COM
mander- -chief. |fs
The weather was cold and gray
with an overcast sky and low-hang
ing. misty clouds as the hour ap-
preached for the review. However. II
cleared somewhat, although the sun
remained hidden Throughout the
morning and the review. dirigibles
and seaplaHes piayet around the
Mayfiower, nyinx 10 to escape the
low drifting cloud hortly before D
IL L. hA
came aboard the yacht and greeted
the President and Mrs. Harding. who
took the bridge.
PENNSYLVANIA IN LINE
At 0 o'clock the Pennsylvania ap-
peared out Of the haze astern, follow
ed at 500 yards intervals by the 9TH
ers. She approached the Mayflower.
and when about a mile astern, wheel
ed smartly and passed in review off
the port side. Over the flagship and
extending backward ~ the pail OF
smoke hovered flest Of sea and air
planes. the staccato roar of their mo-
tors combining with the satuting
guns OF the battleships. The Penn
sylvania's salute doomed out at 9:1o.
TAKES HOUR TO PASS.
It took little more than an hour
for the review to pass the Mayfiower.
1t was shortly before 1880 that the
last of the "subs" went by. After
passing the Presidents Yacht. the
ships of the fleet dropped down into
the Roads and anchored.
A short time later the Mayhower
also lifted anchor and Joined them.
the presidential party leaving the
yacht and boarding the Pennsylvania.
throughout the review President
Harding and Secretary Of the Navy
Denby stood beside each other on the
bridge chatting.
Close on the heels of the Pennsyl-
vania came eleven other capital ships,
their colors flying, their crews stand
ing smartly at the deckrails in salute
as they steamed by. Then came forty
other war craft-pert little destroy
ers that performed such notable feats
in the infested waters Of the North
sea, and the snaky-looking subma-
rines that are their natural prey. Sup
ply and fleet auxiliary vessels made
UP the rest of the long procession.
AIR RoARs WITH sALUTEs.
As each ship came abreast the
Mayflower, her armament doomed
cut the Presidential salute Of twenty
enc guns. The Pennsylvania came
first, her great guns shattering the
auietude of the Roads. To the
Pennsylvania greeting the smaller
guns of the Mayflower barked an
(continued on Page 2. Column a.