The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-28

Old Point Comfort, Va, April 2S.--
The Atlantic fleet. bringing back a
new record of accomplishment from
its southern drill grounds, passed in
ceremonial review before President
Harding today as it entered home
waters in Hampton Roads.
More than 60 ships OF war, led by
the flagship Pennsylvania. were IN ,
the long column that filed by to pay
commander in chiefs honors TO the
president as he stood with his secre-
tary of the navy and a party of Off
cials on the bridge of his yacht, the
Mayflower
A low cloud curtain screened the
sunlight from the pageant, softened
the grim lines of deck and turret, but
2dding u harmonious hint OF near.
dusk to the sombre picture.
The fleet was not in gala dress; 1t
were the serious grey now used for
the first time in peace and war alike
and decks were cleared almost for ac-
tion. a precaution always taken at sea.
1t was few minutes past o'clock
when the Pennsylvania, passing the
reviewing ship, opened up the thun-ii
der Of her presidential salute and be- +
fore the 81 guns had been spent, the
next ship in line took up the firing 1
while the Mayflower's little batteries
were speaking in iacknowiedgeme -
The cannonade continued in an al
most unbroken roar until the review
was over
HOnOrS for President
From each vessel the president also
received all the other naval honors
that can be paid to the highest Of
ficer of the army and the navy. On
the battleships man the raiP' was
the order. The life rails all the way
around the ships were living walls of
blue. On the quarterback of each OF
the II battleships the Marine guards
snapped to Present Arms" opposite
the Mayflower. and the bands played
the opening bars of the Star Spangled
Banner In return the presidential
Yacht paid the proper honors to the
senior officer on each passing ship,
firing salute, however, only to the
Pennsylvania
1t was Mr.. Harding's first review
of any part of the nation s sea power
since he assumed office and it was
the navy first opportunity to salute
him
From the proud flagship Pennsyl-
vania, down to the humble beef
boats and from admiral down to
bluejacket, ships and men were sleek
and alert for the occasion.
Before the fleet had entered the
Virginia capes the Mayflower, which
came down from Washington last
night with President and Mrs. Hard
ing and party, was at anchor of
Thimble Light Nearby was the naval&
yacht Sylph on which Secretary
DENLY and members of the house
naval committee came to Hampton
Roads, while private yachts, excur-
sion boats and ferries clustered
Ground the reviewing party g.
Flew ROosevelts Flag
The Pennsylvania did not fly the
four-starred flag of Admiral II. B.
Wilson, commander in chief of the
naval forces In its place
there fluttered from the flagships
main the blue and white flag OF AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Roose-
welt, who made the cruise from Guam
tanamo with the fleet and was on the
bridge when she passed tho
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,
the battleship force.
Close behind the battleships was the
tender Black Hawk leading the three
divisions of six destrowers each and
IL submarines of the 20" and "K',
classes. They were followed by a
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
quietly along astern of the battle
ships. were forced to content them
selves with less elaborate honors
than those paid the president by the
larger vessels. c-
The greater part of their crews
were below decks in the heat OF the
engine and boiler rooms or busy on
the bridge and, lacking the luxury OF
band, they manned the rail" at ar 3
tention and let it go at that.
On the submarines a little group og
men on the decks almost awash stood
rigidly at attention Is the sat,n6f1i.
bles slipped by the reviewing nNF1