The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-04
President and Party
Leave Washington at
Midnight.
WILL SAIL TO-DAY
Two Divisions Of Allan
tic Fleet Will Meet the
Presidential Ship Off
Coast of France.

Washington, Dec. 3.--Prcsidenf
Wilson. Secretary Lansing. Henry
White and q large party Of cOuu-
sellors and secretaries left Wash
inCton at midnight tonight by
special train for New York city,
where they with hoard the George
Washington carly tomorrow
morning. 1t h expected that the
George Washington will w&,tgh
anchor about noon tomorrow.
The departure OF the president
from America Will be marked by
simplicity in every detail. WASH
fngton searce knew that he was
leaving the city. and the arrange
ments at the union station weFc
such that when the party left
their automobiles and entered the
train shed from n side entrance,
scarcely any aside from the stA-
ton police knew Of their passage.
In the closing hours OF the
afternoon every Official WAS work.
ing ~ top speed to close up lsusi-
neAs necessary TO his considcra-
ton before leaving. Many of the
officials were forced 10 forcgo ap-
ago, and the president cancelled
the nsaal Tuesday meeting Of his
cabinet Precedent and Mrs. VIII
son were dinner guests with
friends tonight and went directly
from the function to the station.
Before retiring. the president con
uited with Secretary Tumulty. whf
worked far into the night aboard thu
rain clearing up matters which hat
,een passed upon by the president
Ali luggage of the party had beer
collected. under the direction Of stat,
department. of1iciais, and was cnxrtes
IN the train. The train was scheduled
o BE- placed on a railroad siding no
ar from the docks, thus facilltAt
nE the transfe- Of ba8gAGe ana pre-
renting any losses or confusion Fina
at New York were com
,leted by state department ofnciAl
'ent to New York several days ago.
II Is understood that the exact houl
II calling win be withheld, as 1t 4
he wish OF the president that his de
,arture should not~bei1the occasion TO
10y ceremonies. sass-- ~ ~
:, q. Peace ship.s Convex.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels an
nounced today the ships and shil
from the United State
md from the other side that will con
IVY tkIC SSoIkE w
Admiral Henry T. Mayo. who re
our abroad will command the escor
rom the United States. This will
consist OF the battleship Pennsylvania
captain L. NJ. Mutton. and the follow
ng daetroyers: Wickes, Commando
T. s. Rarieson: Woolsey. Commando
r V. McNair: Lea, Commander d. W
Ragiey, Tarbeli, Commander Halse,
Powell: Yarnell, Commander w. 4
aaisey.
These vessels will escort the presi
lent all the way to France Ten othe
will be in the escort dur
ng the first forty EIGHT hours afte
eaving the United States, these bein
he Mahan. Radford. Rreese, Craven
Robinson. Walker. Mont
yomery. I.amberton and Perkins.
on the coast Of France the presi
iential ship will be met by two divis
ons of the Atlantic fleet and escorts
% port. Rear-Admiral Rodman vii
be in command of division ., which
includes the fiagship, battleship Ne,
York. Captain r. L. Beach. Texa.
Captain Victor Blue: Wyoming, Cap
.ain Fl. H. Christy; Florida. Captai
". NJ. Taylor; Arkansas, Captain r
L. DeSteiger. and Nevada. Captain W
:. Cole. The other division. the sixth
will be commanded by Rear-Admira
r. s. Rogers and includes the Utah
F. b. Bassett: the Oklahoma
Captain Charles b. Mcvay, and tn
Arizona. Captain John A. Dayton.
Rodman's division has been servfn
turing the past year as battl
squadron Of the British fleet an
division has been in British
waters. guarding conveys. Rear
(Continued on Page Six)