In 1926, civil strife broke out in China which can be loosely characterized as a struggle between north and south for control of the country. In between, there were visits to China coastal ports such as Amoy, Fuzhou, and Shantou and occasional tours on the Yangtze River between Shanghai and Hankou. In the summer months, the ships would base out of Yantai on the north coast of Shandong province, China, while moving southward to Philippine waters for the winter exercises. With her home port at Cavite, near Manila in the Philippines, the destroyer cruised with her division on exercises and maneuvers. The ship next received orders transferring her to DesDiv 45, Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 14 and she joined the Asiatic Fleet in mid-1922. After these exercises, she transited the Panama Canal to participate in the Fleet's visit to Callao, Peru, and arrived at that port on 21 January 1921. She then proceeded south to join the Fleet in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for winter maneuvers.

Preston operated with Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 19 and conducted trials and training off the east coast through the end of 1920. Preston designated DD-344 on 17 July 1920 and commissioned on 23 August 1920.įollowing commissioning, William B. William Radford Beale, the eldest daughter of William B. Preston was laid down on 18 November 1918 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia launched on 9 August 1919 sponsored by Mrs. She was named for United States Secretary of the Navy and United States Senator William B. Preston (DD-344/AVP-20/AVD-7) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I.

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