Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-12-13
wilson LEAVES FOR
ALLIES CONFERENCE
PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF MISSION Is
THE ATTAINMENT OF A JUST
WORLD PEACE.
OVATION IS UNPARALLELED
Spectacular Features Accompany Pres
ldent's Departure On the Trans
port George Washington From
New York Harbor.

New York.-Bound on a mission the
principal objects of which are the alb.
clifton Of militarism and the attain.
ment Of a just world peace, Woodrow
Wilson, first president of the United
States to visit Europe while in office,
crossed the Atlantic to attend the
greatest international conference In
history.
On the transport George Washing.
ton, one-time German passenger liner,
name by a naval crew and with
deck guns ready for action, and accom-.
panied by a naval convoy, the presi.
dent left New York harbor amid q
demonstration unparalleled in history.
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 toot,
ed whistles and thousands of persons
babe him godspeed in cheers and flag
waving from skyscrapers and piers.
Off quarantine, where Staten Island
throngs waved and shouted a second
farewell, and monitors, ~gunboats and
artillerymen at Fort Hamilton joined
In saluting gunfire, the George WASH
ington met its ocean convoy, the super!
d~readnought Pennsylvania and a Quint
tet of 'destroyers. With her o"fficialI
consort and 10 other destroyers, which,
joined the fleet for a cruise to the
limit Of American territorial waters
the George Washington Disappeared
over the eastern horizon. ::
Mr.. Wilson left his native shores, &C,
cording to persons who conferred with
him before the George Washington
sailed, determined against militarism'
in any form. He feels that the crush
ing of Prussian militarism is part of
his plan for the future peace Of the
world, these informants said.
In command of Admiral Mayo, the
peace squadron headed for Brest, an
American d~ebarkation port in France,
Its date of arrival is uncertain, but a
quick passage is not required, as am
pie time remains for conferences pre-
liminary to main peace assemblage.
The liners passenger list contains a
group Of prominent names, probably
without parallel for any single voyage
In the annals of shipping. With the
president are two of his fellow dele
gates to the peace OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tary Of State Lansing and Henry
White, former ambassador to France
and Italy-who will join Col. E. M
House and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, al
ready in Europe.
Guests of the chief executive includ.
ed the French and Italian ambassa-
doris, John w. Davis, newly appointed,
ambassador to Great Britain, high ma
val and military authorities, represent
of variou government depart,
ments and a stat of specialists to adj
wise the America peace commission
problems of pI itical, economical,
trade and racial characteristics Of ma
lions affected by the war.
Mrs. Wilson, together with the wivesI
of Secretary Lansing, Ambassador Da1
Wis and the French and Italian envoysI
are members of the George WashingA
tons company.
On the trip from Washington extral
ordinary precautions were taken by the
secret service. Capt. John J. Henry
and his entire Washington staff accom-
panied the president. Meanwhile 200
secret service experts had thoroughly
examined the George Washington and
the loyalty Of every officer and sea-
was absolutely proven.