Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-13
PRESIDENT VISITS
FORTRESS MONROE
Makes Informal Inspection
and Is Interested in r.
Inch Guns.
REACHES NEWPORT NEWS
TOO LATE FOR LAUNCHING
Accepted Invitation, But Biggest Oil
Steamer in World Had Left
the Ways.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. February 12.-
President Wilson this afternoon per-
sonally inspected one unit of the coun-
try's defense. when he made a tour
of Fortress Monroe, whose mammoth
guns guard the entrance to Chesapeake
| bay ten miles away. Cutting short his
| inspection of the fort, when he receiv-
| ed an invitation to attend the launch
| ing of the largest oil steamer ever
| built in America, the President hur-
riedly returned to his launch and head
! ed for the plant of the Newport News
| Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
| But before his speedy little craft
could cover the twelve miles the giant
the Standard Oil Company, had taken
| its maiden plunge in the water of the
James, and the presidential party had
| to satisfy itself with view of the ship
building plant and other interesting spots
along the shores of the James and Hamp-
ton roads between Old Point and Newport
News.
Pleasant Trip Down Potomac.
The naval yacht Mayfiower, with the
President and Mrs. Wilson and DR..
Cary T. Grayson, the Presidents ply
sician. aboard, arrived in Hampton
roads about go p.m., after delight
full trip down the Potomac river and
Chesapeake bay. The Mayfower did
not fly the Presidents flag, and there
were no salutes from the fort or other
formal ceremonies to mark the chief
executives arrival in Virginia waters.
p1ivn hi al ftAr
noon that the presidential party would
| remain in Hampton roads district until
$40 o'clock Sunday afternoon. when
begun.
Accompanied by Mrs. Wilson. DR..
Grayson and two secret service men,
the President came ashore rev MIN
utes after six o'clock. A number OF
soldiers from the fort and civilians
who were gathered on the dock greet
ed the President with rousing cheers.
to which he responded by lifting his
hat and bowling. broad smile lndieat-
ception. The presidential party then
headed for the main entrance to the
fort En- route the President was
stopped by several men who knew him
and was forced to acknowledge the
| demonstrative greeting every few
steps Each time he lifted his hat
and bowed with smile.
Valves All Formalities.
Reaching the fort, the President
stopped at the guardhouse and asked
| the guard on duty to request the Of
fcer of the day to notify the fort au
thorities that he did not desire that
any formal courtesies be shown him;
that with his wife and DR.. Grayson
he would see the fort without escort
The party then walked through the
main barracks. circled the parade
ground. looking the barracks over
from the outside. and then mounted
the ramparts of Battery Parrott, where
the President inspected with show
of deep interest the twelve-inch guns.
which in time of war viii be called
upon to keep hostile ships out of the
waterways which lead to Washington.
Baltimore, Newport News, Richmond
and Norfolk.
It was while on the ramparts that
the President received the invitation
to attend the launching, the messenger
explaining that the exercises would be
de we'd if the President should accept
the invitation. Mr. Wilson then led
the way down the barracks and break
water, making the exit from the fort
through the officers quarters. Fully
two hundred persons had gathered on
the pier and volley of handicap
ping and cheers greeted the nations
chief executive. The greeting again
was cordially acknowledged.
Courtesy of the Sailors.
During the Presidents absence the
sailors in charge of the launch from
the Maynower had gathered some
white boards out OF which they had
constructed temporary platform at
the point the party would board the
launch. The President seemed greatly
plea sed by this show of sentiment and
Mrs. Wilson smiled and bowed her
thanks to the sailors.
The launch was headed for Newport
News with all speed. but il they had
only known it. the launching had al
ready taken place, the start from Old
Point being made at 4:10 and the
launching having occurred at o'clock.
The trip was not entirely without sat
isfactory result, however. as the Presi-
dent was afforded an opportunity to
look over the superdreadnaught Penn
sylvania, which Is nearing completion
during the latter part of this month.
and the Mississippi, to be slightly larg-
err than the Pennsylvania, and which
is now about 80 per cent completed.
To Visit Soldiers Home.
i Tomorrow President and Mrs. Wilson
are expected to visit the National Sol
diers. Home and the Hampton Normal
School at Hampton. Their plans have
not been made public, however, and 1t
| IL not definitely known how they will
| spend the Sabbath. They will spend the
night aboard the Mayfower, which
rides at anchor in practically the same
spot where the captured British liner
Appam dropped anchor after being
brought into Hampton roads by a Ger
man prize crew ten days ago.
| returning to Old Point from Newport
News, the President and party went di-
rectly to the Mayfower. not touching
at the dock. The President later de-
clined an invitation extended by the
mana cement of the shipyard to attend
| a dinner party rendered the sponsor
and launching party.
Killed in Auto Accident.
| FORT VALLEY. Ga, February H.
Or q. G. Singleton was killed and his