The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-19
Five Mile BattIeShip Array
Fires Fl Guns as PreSi-
dent Passes.
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press Staff Correspondent

AbOAtOO u. y. -. AfOfAANDA0,
YORKTOWN, Va, Oct. 19.-Fifty
mighty fighting men of war thun-
dered battle welcome to President
Hoover upon his arrival here today.
A proud five-mile line of blue
gray cruisers and destroyers un-
leashed their twenty-one gun salutes
simultaneously as the Arkansas,
bearing the presidential party,
pushed her prov past the first ship
in line at a. m.
Black smoke and thunder filled
the air and shook the sea before the
eyes Of the President, who stood on
the bridge of the Arkansas. 1t was
the first time he had witnessed the
rare spectacle of a whole scouting
fleet honoring him as its COM
mander-in- chief
French Cruisers in Line
First to catch his eye was the
flagship Augusta, heading the line
drawn up at the right side of the
York river. On the bridge Of the
Augusta was Vice Admiral Willard,
who gave the order for the terrific
din of three Founders.
The Arkansas did not return the
fire but steamed along at ten
knots past its sisters of the fleet
All hands we're drawn up on deck
at attention, facing the fleet.
Over at the left we're two French
cruisers Duquesne and Suffren which
brought a, distinguished group of
Frenchmen to the celebration of the
150th anniversary of CORVALLIS
surrender at this quiet little Vir-
ginia hamlet
They looked on in awe as did the old
restored frigate Constitution, hero
of many sea battles The Con-
stitution was the third ship in line
on the left side of the river
Arkansas Returns Salute
Behind it, on the high banks,
the President could see towering
over Scrubby pines, the monument
dedicated by President Arthur to
commemorate the Revolutionary
war victory of the American col
onieS.
The Arkansas slid into anchor
age beyond the Constitution, about
1000 yards off shore. Soon there
appeared bouncing over the waters
of the river an admiral's bark,
bringing Willard over to pay an
official call of welcome. His ap-
pearance was the signal for the
ArkSanse to try her hand at the
trigger and she burst out in thunder
with the vice admiraIs salute of
seventeen guns.
Hoover appeared impressed by the
ceremony. 1t was possible that he
recalled the serious dispute he has
had the last few days with the navy
over reduction of the naval budget
next year-s dispute being arbitrat-
ed by the budget director and the
navy budget officer in Washington.
Red Coats Await Visit
After Admiral Wizards visit. the
President had a few moments of
relaxation before the welcoming
party of F'renchmen headed by the
French ambassador Claudel and
Marshall Petain arrived in a small
boat from the Duquesne.
In their party was Rear Admiral
Descottes-Genon of the French
navy; Captain Brohan, commanding
the Duquesne, and Captain Lacroix
commanding the Suffren. Their ar
rival called for a nineteen-gun am
bassadorial salute from the Arkan-
SaS.
Exactly two hours were required
for these ceremonies of welcome be-
fore Hoover went ashore to deliver
and address at the pageant field.
The village of Yorktown was
damned with holiday crowds.
The land welcoming party includ-
ed Governor Pollard, Senator Swan
son and Representative Bland of
Virginia. Mingling around them
were tattered continentalS and bril-
liant clad red coats" Some Revo-
lutionary ladies with powdered wigs
and hoop skirts all were waiting to
re-enact the historic event.
Symbolic of more modern era,
however, were hot dog stands, toy
balloon statesmen and airplanes
skirting overhead.