Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-28
PRESIDENT HARDING REVIEWS ATLANTIC
FLEET TODAY OFF TRIMBLE LIGHT, HAMPTON
RoADS--HALF HUNDRED WARSHIPS IN Line
Flag Ship Pennsylvania Heads Great Fighting Machines,
Fresh From War ManeWerS In Southern Waters, Before
Chief Executive, Senators And Distinguished Party.
(By international News servIcs.)

Aboard the Presidential Yacht
Mayflower, off rhimble Light.
Hampton Roads, Va, April 2S.--
weeks spent in war maneuvers IN
southern waters, the great Atlantic
fleet swung majestieally in review to
day before President Harding, the
new commander-in.chiof or the ma
tons armed forces. Half n hundred
warships headed by the super.
dreadnaught Pennsylvania, one Of
the greatest OF her class ailoat, made
up the long line OF steel which
steamed up the Roads and slowly
passed the trim little Mayflower.
from which tho president and his
party viewed the magnificent spec
tacle. The Pennsylvania also is the
flagship OF the feet and bore Admir-
al Henry 3. C"Tug') Wilson, the
eommander-in-chief
Close on the heels OF the PennsyI.
vania came eleven other I capital
ships. their colors flying, their crews
standing smartly at the deck rails
in salute as they steamed by. Then
came forty other war cratt-pert
little destroyers that performed such
notable leate in the infested waters
of the North Sea, and the smacky-
looking submarines that are their
natural prey. Supply and fleet aux.
iliary vessels made up the rest or
the long procession.
Az each ship came abreast the
MaytIower, her armament doomed
out the presidential salute OF II
guns The Pennsylvania came first,
her great guns SCATTERING the auie-
tude of the Roads. TO the Pennsyl-
vania's greeting tho smaller guns 81
the Mayhower parked and answered,
but thereafter remained silent.
As ship after ship went by. guns
speaking, the air was filled with the
crash and roar OF heavy fire, remin.
iscent OF the days on the westorn
front
The president took his first fleet
review standing on tho bridge OF the
Mayfower. Just below on the deck
were Mrs Harding. Senator and
Mrs Wadsworth, Senator and Mrs
Mccormick, Senator and Mrs. Poin.
/ dexter, Senator Hale, Senator Swan.
son, Dr. c. f. Sawyer and George y.
Christian, Jr., secretary to the pres.
ident.
The Mayflower LETT Washington
! last night and arrived off Point
! Comfort early this morning From
there. shortly before 10 O'Clock. the
j hour set for the review She took up
her position off Thlmble Light.
The carly weather was cold aud
cray with an overcast sky and low
hanging misty clouds as the hour
approached for the review. How
ever, It was cleared som what, al
though the sun remained hidden
Throughout the morning and the re-
iiew. dirigibles and seaplanes lay
around the Mayflower flying low to
escape tho raw clouds. Shortly be
fore o'clock Secretary OF the Navy
DENLY came aboard the yacht and
greeted the President and Mrs.
Harding who took tho bridge. At
o'clock the Pennsylvania appeared
out OF the haze astern, followed at
500 yards intervals by the others.
She approached the Mayfower and
when about a mile astern wheeled
smartly and passed in review off the
port side. over the flagship and ey-
tending backward in the pail OF
smoke lowered a fleet OF airplanes.
the stattaco roar OF their motors
combined with the saluting guns OF
the battleships The Pennsylvania
salute doomed out at $40.
1t took little more than an hour
for the review to pass the May.
flower. 1t was 9l0 when the Penn.
eylyania PASSED and shortly before
1890 the last OF the tugs went by.
After passing the presidents yacht
tho ships of the fleet struck down
into the Road and entered. A short
time later the Maynower also lifted
/ anchor and joined them. the presi-
Dental party leaving the yacht and
boarding the Pennsylvania where
President and Mrs Harding held
reception for the officers Of the fleet.
! Throughout the review President
Harding and Secretary OF the Navy
DENLY stood beside each other on