"Elliot" maneuvered offshore with the fleet until 25 March 1920 when she departed for the Far East. In June, she took Admiral Albert Cleaves, Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, aboard and sailed up the Yangtze to investigate the murder of an American missionary, William A. Reimert. She stood by in China during civil disturbances which threatened American lives and property. In September, she visited Port Arthur and Dalian on intelligence duty, and then returned to her base at Cavite for . "Elliot" went home to San Francisco in late 1921. In October, she arrived at San Diego to lie in reserve until being decommissioned on 22 May 1922.