10, 13 July. 
vo 
l) 4 
On 10 July the following notice appeared: 
SHELLBACKS - ATTENTION 
Till 
It is my honor to report my arrival on board the U. S. S. Houston 
looking for new candidates. 
/s/ Long John Silver, 
Secret Emissary of 
His Majesty, Neptunus-Rex 
On 12 July the Houston left San Francisco, going alongside the Pori 
of Oakland Pier to await the President. 
On 13 July the Polly wogs began to take notice because during the 
darkest hours of the night more of Long John Silver’s dastardly handi- 
work appeared. 
ON HIS MAJESTY’S MOST SECRET SERVICE 
POLLYWOGS! ! ! ! ** BEWARE** 
None ever has, and no one ever shall escape the JUDGEMENT of 
THE MOST HONORABLE COURT. The court over which my Vener- 
able but ageless sire, NEPTUNUS-REX, has presided since time began. 
/s/ Long John Silver, 
His Majesty’s Most Secret 
Emissary 
V>, v . -c ' ' ; • V ^ i 
- Fleet Review - 
Tke Houston from tke 
deck of tke 
U.S.S. PennsyL ania 
“ rM •V r : f .iSJ# . 
.... • : , - 
>/;.■/ ■ 
- r ~ ^ ^ u - * ? ^ 
% 
: : ■ . ■ ^ % 

w- 
14 July 
Tke Fleet at reviev? 
stations, 
San Francisco, Calif. 
THE FLEET REVIEW 
Early on the morning of 14 July, 1938 people began gathering at 
the entrance to the Oakland Pier. By noon the route of the President 
from the Bay Bridge to the pier was packed with crowds eager for a 
glimpse of the President. At 1430 the following word was passed over 
i he loud speaker. “All hands shift into the uniform of the day: - Officers 
Full Dress Blue; Crew, Dress Blue Afirm.” At 1515, the crew assembled at 
quarters; the Guard and Band paraded on the quarterdeck; saluting 
crews stood by their stations; and the quartermaster had the President’s 
Flag ready to be broken at the main once again. The cheering of the 
crowd made known the President’s approach, minutes before he came in 
sight. When the President arrived on the quarterdeck full honors were 
rendered. His first words, upon arrival were, “It’s good to be home again, 
Captain.” The feelings of the crew were perhaps best expressed by 
Joe Blow, seaman second of the fourth division: “What a Shipmate!” 
A number of distinguished visitors accompanied the President. 
Among them were: The Governor of California, Senator McAdoo, Mayors 
of San Francisco and Oakland, the Commander in Chief, and many other 
officials. 
The Houston slowly slid away from the Oakland Pier at 1545, turn- 
ing west along the Bay Bridge out into San Francisco Bay. On this 
westerly course the President was afforded a thrilling view of a four 
mile phalanx of gray warships lying in four lines so evenly spaced that 
a giant ruler might have been lain along them, touching each. 
The course was changed from west along the Bay Bridge to south - 
speed ten knots. The President reviewed the fleet from the forward part of 
the Communication deck. Eight bells were struck. The bow of the 
Houston came abreast the Pennsylvania and the first salute was fired. 
The Fleet Flagship boomed her twenty-one gun salute, immediately fol- 
lowed by the Idaho as that battleship took it lip and passed it along - the 
roar of one salute hardly dying down before it was taken up by the next 
in line as the President continued his review. Each salute was answered 
by a salute from our men at their manning the rail station and the 
Presidential Band playing the Star Spangled Banner. The steady rhythm 
of a 21 gun salute - playing of the national anthem - salute from the next 
ship, proceeded at a stately pace. Some 22,000 personnel, officeis in then 
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