Middletown transcript., 1914-06-20
WILSON AT HEAD
OF GREAT ARMADA
eadGreatest Fleet Through
Canal.
ORIGINAL PLANS CHANGED
Navies Of Nine Nations Have Already
Announced They Will Send Ships
To Panama For the Opening
Ceremonies.

son next March will lead personally
the great international feet of war
ships from Hampton Roads to Colon,
to participate in the formal opening of
the Panama Canal, by passing through
on the bridge of the world-famous old
battleship Oregon as leader of the long
line Of fighting craft of all nations, and
then, after proceeding northward,
enter the Golden Gate at the head Of
this armada and attend the Panama
Pacific Exposition at San Francisco.
This announcement was made by
Secretary Daniels, who has been work.
ing long time to bring about the
notable program. Originally the Presi-
dent was to go from Washington to
Hampton Roads to greet the conn
manders of the international feet as
they arrived and to participate in the
| ceremonies attendant upon the depar-
ture of the vessels on their long cruise
around the North American continent.
Afterward he was to make the trip by
rail to San Francisco to visit the ex-
position at some convenient later date.
Had Promised GoethaIs.
The President, however, has deter
mined now to do full honor to the ex-
position by making his advent upon
the scene at the head of an armada
the like of which the world has never
seen. Also he will redeem his long
standing promise to Col. George w.
Goethals by not only visiting but
formally opening the Panama Canal.
He will make his passage through on
the Oregon with Rear-Admiral Charles
E. Clark (retired), who captained the
ironclad in her famous Spanish War
cruise around Cape Horn. Also on the
Oregon will be most of the members
of the Cabinet.
The President, according to the
present program, many details OF
which remain to be worked out, will
leave Washington for Hampton Roads
accompanied by his official family on
the yacht Mayfower on March 5, 1915.
The international feet will have been
gathering in the roads since January
1, but the President feels obliged to
defer his own departure until the date
mentioned because of his desire to re-
main in Washington until the session
of Congress closes.
So far nine maritime countries have
signifed their intention to take part in
the naval parade through the canal,
and it is certain there will be other
participants announced before the end
Of this year. The countries that al
ready have accepted are Argentina,
Cuba, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Italy, Japan, Portugal and Russia.
The entire Atlantic feet of the
American Navy will form the nucleus
around which the international naval
forces will gather. The officers and
men of the feet will be the nations
guests and will make excursions from
Hampton Roads to the capital and to
nearby Eastern cities while arrange
ments are being made for the long
cruise from Chesapeake Bay to the
Golden Gate.
After the ceremonies at Hampton
Roads the Presidet will take up his
quarters on the super-dreadnought
New York. Then the start will be
made for Colon, with the New York
leading. The ships will form column
many miles in length, for it is esti-
mated that there will be nearly 100
ships in the procession.
Arriving at Colon within week
there will be a delay of day or two
while arrangements are being made to
pass the vessels through the canal.
This will be done with all ceremony,
the line being headed by the ancient
steam launch Louise, the gift of the
smerican Government to the Govern
nv, ut of France. The Oregon is to fol-
low with the Presidential party.
The feet should be transferred from
the Atlantic to the Pacific in the course
of about four days.
When the ships have made the pas
sage and have anchored in Panama |
Bay fresh supplies Of coal, oil and pro-
visions will be taken aboard and the
will start for the North.
It is probable brief stay will be made
at San Diego, Cal, to do honor to the
Panama California Exposition in prog
ress at that place in. connection with
the canal celebration.
If all goes well the first vessels Of
the international feet should pass
through the Golden Gate by April 15,
lQ1k