The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
Principal Objects Are to Abolish Militarism and Attain a Just World
 Peace
DEMONSTRATION WITHOUT PARALLEL
 UPON HIS SAILING
Former German Liner George Wash ington, Bearing President and Party, Disappeared Over the
 Eastern Horizon Shortly
 After Noon Yesterday

New YOrK, DecempeT D. Bound on a mission, the prin- cipal objects of which are the abolition of militarism and the attainment of a just world peace, Woodrow Wilson, first President of the United States to visit Europe while in office, was tonight speeding across the Atlantic toward France to attend the greatest information al conference in history.
 On the transport George Wash : ington, one-time German passen-
 ger liner, manned by a navy crew
 and with deck guns ready for ac-
 tion, and accompanied by a naval
 convoy, the President left New
 York harbor today amid a demon-
 stration without parallel in the
 history of the port.
 The President took his place on the flying bridge as the great ship moved down the bay. River craft and ships of many nations dipped flags and footed whistles and thousands of per- sons bade him godspeed in cheers ana flag wavings from skyscrapers and piers.
 JOINED BY CONVOY
 Off quarantine, where Staten Island throngs waved and shouted second y,onn pnnhOatS and artiIlerymen at Fort Hamilton joined in saluting gun fire, the George Wash ington met it's ocean convoy--the SUI perdreadnaught Pennsylvania and a quintet of destroyers With her offl- cial consort and 10 other destroyers which joined the fleet for cruise to the limit of American territorial waters. the George Washington disap- peared over the eastern horizon shortly after noon.
 MT. Wilson left his native shores, according to persons who conferred with him before the George Washing ton sailed, determined against militar- ism in any form. He feels that the crushing of Prussian militarism is part of his plan for fhe future peace of the world, these informants said.
 MET RETURNING SOLDIERS
 In emphasis. it seemed. of Americas part in bringing about Germanys downfall, the presidential party, out bound. met some of the American hosts returning from overseas. Two thou sand homecoming aviation troops on the Lapland cheered the George Wash- ington as she left her pier, and out side quarantine the Minnekahda was sighted, steaming up the harbor with more than 5000 soldiers as passen- gers.
 In command of Admiral Mayo, the peace squadron Is heading, 1t Is un- derstood. for Brest, an American de- barkation port in France. Its date or arrival is uncertain, but a quick pas- sage is not required, as ample time re- mains for conferences preliminary to the main assemblage. Off the French coast the President will be welcomed by "a squadron of American warships. French. British and Italian vessels, also. 1t is expected, will join in the creating at sea, which will be followed sby a succession of official ceremonies marking the progress of the American executive to Paris, to the war front, and presumably to the capitals of Great Britain, Belgium and Italy.
 MANY PROMINENT PERSONAGES
 The liners passenger list contains a group of prominent names, probably without parallel for any single voyage I President are two of his fellow dele gates to the peace conference, Secre- tary of State Robert Lansing and Henry White. former ambassador to France and Italy, who will join Col. E. M. House and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, already in Europe. Guests of the chief executive included the French and Italian ambassadors, John w. Davis. new ly appointed ambassador to Great Britain. high naval and military au- thorities, representatives of various government departments and staff of specialists to advise the American peace commission on problems of po- litical. economical. trade and racial characteristics of nations affected by the war.
 Mrs. Wilson, together with the wives of Secretary Lansing. Ambassador Davis and the French and Italian en voys, are members of the George Wash