The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-09

who doubted tonight but that she was
I alfeAdy scooting across the Atlantic
On her way to her home port.
when the news OF the interceptinS
Of the Kansan had been conveyed to
him. Admiral knight went directly to
his once In the war college. He re-
NAMED there all forenoon.
I'VE work all the time" was his
answer to Newspaper men, who sus-
Gested that 1t was both odd and I'M
usual that he should be at his desk
on Sunday. instead of remaining at
home.
Sundays and holidays are all the
same to u.s. he added
About noon the second wireless call
came from the lightship This was
the message the Admirars operator
read from the intermittent flashes:
steamship West Point, nationality
unknown. in distress ten miles SOUTH
east OF Nantucket shoals lightship.
Sending S, O. S. Operator says nrec
on. Passengers standing by boats
This was the first definite informa-
ton they had to work on. Rear Ad-
mtral Gleaves was aboard the BIZ
mineham. But a few minutes elapsed
before Admiral Gleaves had the mes
sage sent from the lightship In his
hands. 1t was appended with the IN
structions Go ahead.
Although shore leaves were liberal
and not boat in the flotilla had its
fun complement OF men aboard or
four officers and e6 men. there was no
wasted time.
New Naval Records Made.
without recalling the men on shore.
Admiral Cleaves ordered the nfth,
sixth and seventh divisions to sea
New records were quickly set. Lying
in a long gray lire at the wharf just
opposite the landing and in the lee
OF the Goat Neck torpedo station men
were seen running to and fro along
the docks. All set on getting away as
quickly as possible.
Within twenty minutes deep black
smoke was belching from their fun
nels. In exactly twenty minutes after
Rear Admiral Gleaves had given the
order the Jarvis had slipped her
cables and wes into the inner harhor
She droifei faztfy along fort the first
hundred feet. but quickly picked up
speed and was soon racing for the
break In the land that leads TO the
Atlantic.
At intervals Of a minute or two. the
other destroyers followed in her wake
First came the Drayton. Communicated
by Lieutenant Bagby. AS this van
ished the Ericsson, tho flagship OF the
Sixth Division, broke away.
Others to go were the oBrien, the
penham, the Cassin. the Balch. the
Mccall, the Porter, the Manning, thu
Paulding. the winslow. the Ayiwin,
the Cushing. the Cummins and Cum
ningham.
The mother ship--the last to get
away--sailed out OF the hareor at
O'Clock this afternoon. Each of the
destroyers Is capable of making so
knots an hour and 1t was thought they
reached the scene about O'Clock.
Rear Admiral Gieaves would not
admit he had sent such an imposing
force in expectation of trouble.
Problem One of Searching.
we want II made plain" he said,
chat the destroyer divisions are sent
out 70 save life That 10 the duty of
every sailor In the navy IN and out
wed send assistance even IL the navy
did not nxure In the matter"
He was asked pointedly why 20
many destroyers were sent out.
There are two reasons and two
only" he replied
The nrst II that indications are the
weather - very NhlCk OF gNHNtuChNs
shoals and that the problem lis 10 he
more or less one of searching. tn"
other In that I thought It would be
rood practice for the officers and
crews"
A the Melville, the mother ship, was
rounding land and fading from sight
the next fash came from the light
Have taken aboard twenty surviv"
ors Of the crew of steamship strsth-
dene"
Tho message was unsigned and con-
tanned no further information. 1t was
believed to be from the Balch.
Pleased mt Mems Work.
Admiral 0leaves expressed great
pleasure at the showing OF his men
TT was mighty good work." he said
proudly. Tho whole bunch OF them
were of within an hour and a halt
from the time we got the word. OF
course We could have done better on
n week day when we would have had
steam up and all complernents aboard.
Naval OFFICERS here are fearful OF
the fate awaiting five big liners with
hundreds OF passengers aboard. due
now. are within a day OF the danger
,ore These are the Rochambeau and
II rs,avne of the French Line, the
r.meronia and the Alaunia, Of the
>s-AH~' S'-'-~ 4