Bells, Flotillas Kick Off July 4 Gala in N.Y.

A replica of the Liberty Bell pealed the start of the Liberty Weekend today and men-of-war from 13 nations steamed slowly into New York Harbor to honor the Statue of Liberty on her 100th Birthday.

Hundreds of private boats rode at anchor between Ellis Island and the refurbished statue, its golden torch glinting in the sunlight, or darted around vast sailing ships circling the harbor.

They were waiting to catch a close-up glimpse tonight when President Reagan throws the switches starting a long, foot-to-crown relighting of the statue that has become the national emblem and world’s most potent symbol of freedom.

Thousands of Spectators

More than 200 of the smaller ships taking part in Friday’s parade of tall ships moved in line astern down the East River early today to the delight of hundreds of thousands of people who lined the shores to see them.

“I’m supposed to be blase about this because I’m a New Yorker, but this is wonderful,” cried Myra Segal, who went to Roosevelt Island to see the ships go by.

The last tall-masted ships were easing under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge when the line of 33 warships, led by the U.S. command ship Mount Whitney, began moving into the harbor past the lady they came to salute. Following the Whitney was the French helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc.

The aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, its seamen at rigid attention, stood guard in the harbor. Twenty-eight Navy A-6 fighters screamed overhead in formations of three, dipping their wings to the statue.

Presidential Review

Reagan, who flew to New York to join French President Francois Mitterrand for the celebration, will review the men-of-war Friday from the deck of the battleship Iowa.

Millions of visitors streamed into the city for the extravaganza, orchestrated by television producer David Wolper. Police officials said they expected 6 million people but were ready for 12 million, and sent thousands of officers into the streets with handbooks on how to deal with their guests.

Most of the streets in lower Manhattan were closed to traffic and, by normal standards, streets in the rest of the island were almost empty of cars. A strike by the city’s cabdrivers apparently dwindled into a wildcat action by no more than 500 or so of the city’s 12,000 cabbies.

Hundreds of people lined up on Fifth Avenue to attend mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and receive the videotaped blessings of Pope John Paul II.

On the steps of the church, Cardinal John O’Connor heaved on the rope of a replica of the Liberty Bell. Thousands of spectators stood outside the cathedral for hours to see the 100-second bell-ringing. Hundreds of workers leaned out windows at Rockefeller Center.

Weekend’s events, Page 4.