Evening star., 1921-04-28
FLEET RETURNING
HOME IS REVIEWED
BY THE PRESIDENT
Atlantic Armada, Steaming
Into Hampton Roads, Sa-
Iutes Its Chief.
SHIPS STILL IN WAR GRAY
PRESENT STIRRING SIGHT
Secretary Denby and Many Officials
Also See Force Returning
From Cuba Practice.


From Cuba Practice.
BY the Associated Press.
HAMPTON ROADS, Va,
April 28.-The United States
seeks no territory, no pay
ment and no tribute, President
Harding today told the officers
of the Atlantic feet con the
quarter deck of the flagship
Pennsylvania here, but, he
said, this country seeks that
that is righteously its own,
and, by the eternals, we mean
to have it"
OLD POINT COMFORT. Va. April
cS-The Atlantic fleet, bringing back
a new record of accomplishment from
its southern drilling grounds. passed
in ceremonial review before President
Harding today as it entered home
More than sixty ships of war, led by
the flagship Pennsylvania, were in the
long line that filed by to pay a COM
mander-in-chiefs honors to the Presi-
dent as he stood with the Secretary
of the Navy and a party of officials
on the bridge of his yacht Mayhower.
A low cloud curtain screened the
sunlight from the pageant. softening
the grim lines of deck and turret. but
adding a harmonious hint of near
dusk to the somber picture. For the
fleet was not in gala dress; it wore
the serious gray now used for the
first time in peace and war alike. and
the decks were cleared almost as for
action, a precaution always taken at
sea.
1t was a few minutes past 9 o'clock
when the Pennsylvania, passing the
reviewing ship, opened up the thun-
der of her presidential salute. and be-
fore the twenty-one guns had been
spent the next ship in line took up
the firing, while the Mayfiower's lit
tie batteries were speaking IN ac-
acknowledgements. The cannonade con-
tinued in an almost unbroken roar
until the review was over.
All Naval Honprs.
From each vessel the President
also received all the other naval hon
ors that can be paid to the highest
officer of the Army and the Navy. On
the battieships man the rail- was the
around the ships were living walls
of blue. On the quarterback OF each
of the eleven battleships the marine
guards snapped to present arms op-
posite the Mayfiower. and the bands
played the opening bars of The Star
presidential yacht paid the proper
honors to the senior officer on each
passing ship. firing salute, now
ever. only to the Pennsylvania.
II was Mr.. Harding's first review
of any part of the nations sea power
since he assumed Office. and it was
the Navy's frs, opportunity to salute
him. From the proud flagship Penn.
eylvania down to the humble beef
boats" and from admiral down to
bIuejacke:. ships and men were sleek
and alert for the occasion.
Before the fleet had entered the
Virginia eapes the Mayflswer. which
came down from Washington last
ing and their party. was at anchor
off Trimble light. Nearby was the
naval Yacht Sylph. on which Secre-
tary DENLY and members OF the
House naval committee came to
Hampton roads while private yachts.
excursion boats and ferries clustered
around the reviewing party.
Roosevelt on Flagship.
The Pennsylvania did not fly the
fnur-starred flag of Admiral Wilson.
comma mander-in-chief OF the Atlantic
fleet naval forces. In its place there
fiuttered from the fagships main
the blue-and- white flag of Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt, who
made the cruise from Guantanamo
with the feet and was on the nag
ships bridge when she passed the
Siayfower.
Following the Pennsylvania came
the battleships Oklahoma. Nevada.
Arizona Utah. Florida, Delaware,
North Dakota, Michigan. South Caro-
lima and Connecticut, the Utah flying
the flag of Vice Admiral II. p Jones,
commanding the battleship force. Close
behind the battleships was the tender
Black Hawk leading three divisions
of six destroyers each and thirteen
submarines OF the . and K classes.
They were followed by number of
mine force vessels and ships of the
supply train. headed by the cruiser
Columbia. flagship of the train.
The destroyers as they slipped quiet
" along astern OF the battleshlps
were forced to content themselves
with less elaborate honors than those
paid the President by the larger ves-
sells The greater part of their crews
were below decks in the heat of en-
bridge and, lacking the luxury of a
band they manned the rail- at at
lention and let il go at that.
On the submarines little group of
men on the decks almost aWash stood
.gidly at attention as the subme rsi =
bles slipped by the reviewing party
Aircraft Fly Overhead.
Throughout the review seaplanes from
the naval base and Army aircraft from
Langley Field buzZed and hummed over
head while three dirigibles droned laz,ly
over the pageant.
The review occupied a little less thar
an hour and half The last of the long
lire past the Mayiower lifted ancho,
ard headed out across the roadstead &c
pur the President aboard the P.nnsyl-
vania. where the officers of the feet haC
gathered for reception.
AS the yacht passed Fortress Monroe
The Army paid its honors TO the Presi
dent in Il twenty-one- gun salute from 4
shOre battery.
Sc the executive neared the fleet a.
us anchorage the war craft dressed
ship in multi-colored flags. which add
cd a picturesque touch TO the scene
The war craft were strung out q two
long lines stretching from the for
far down toward Newport News.
Alongside the Pennsylvania the
Mayfower dropped anchor. and Ad
miral Wilson went aboard formally L
pay the respects of the feet to the Presi
dent That ceremony over. Mr.. Hard
ing was taken across to the flagship
In a launch. and was given anothe
salute of twenty-one guns as he
climbed the SangWay Al the same