The Washington herald., 1918-12-05


OF the North Atlantic Coast.
New York. Dec. 4-The steamship
George Washington. namesake of the
first leader in the worlds struggle for
democracy. is tonight battling her
way eastward in the face OF sweep
ing northwest storm. carrying across
the Atlantic Americas world peace
delegates with a message of peace
and equality for all men"
A piece OF blue bunting with the
national coat OF arms and five stars.
the flag of the President OF the United
States, is being whipped TO the breeze
and entwined about her foremast as
she feels her way across the foam
dashed seas with Woodrow Wilson.
first President Of the worlds greatest
republic to cross to the mother lands.
Sixteen great armed ships. led by
the Pennsylvania, are sweeping clean
the pathway of the great liner with
her precious cargo Of delegates. par
liamentarians and advisers TO the
greatest conclave ever called to bring
peace into the world.
President on the Bridge.
President and Mrs. Wilson and
members OF the peace party waved a
farewell to the cheering multitude
from the flying bridge" as the great
craft cast away from pier No. 4, . Ho-
boken.
Riding majestically. with two United
States destroyers. guns stripped for
action and glistening brightly in the
near-noon sun. and airplanes flying
so low that the hum of the motors
intermingled with the vast chorus of
whistles and sirens. acting as escorts.
the Presidential ship started Gown the
harbor at 1s:20 this morning.
Along water lane between rows
OF faE-bsdecked ships of war. COM
T1erce and pleasure. under the shadow
gift and tribute to our land and free
Harbor is Noisy.
A mighty roar from the. crowds
that lined the shores and from the
harbor craft spelled "Godspeed and
good luck" to President Wilson and
was answered with a smile and wav-
ing OF the hand, but the lips of Amer
ica's first representative to the con-
ference OF the allies twitched nerV-
oUsly as though there was something
he would like to say in thanks for the
good wishes being extended to him.
A band on the deck of the George
Washington, otter playing Hail to
the Chief" switched to "Over There
As the journey down the harbor
started, and then TO Hail. Hail. the
Gangs All Here"
The tune was taken up by the
crowds and rang in the ears of the
President until the ship swung into
the Narrows. when every other sound
was drowned out as cheer after cheer.
throat-craeking and joyful, came from
the decks of the United States trans
port Minnekhada, homeward bound
with 2,C4O officers and men of the
United states army. as she swept past
IN view of their commander-in-chier
Some Who Went Along.
The passengers aboard the George
Washington included President and
Mrs. Wilson. Rear Admiral Cary T.
Graysor, L. 5. ". and the Presidents
personal staff: the French Ambassador
and Nine. Jusserand. the Italian Am
basSador and Countess Cellere, the
American bassador to Great Brit
ain and Mrs. Davis. Secretary of State
Robert Lansing and Mrs. Lansing.
Henry White, delegate to the peace
conference; Leland Harrison and
Philip IT. Patchin. assistant .secreta-
ries Of the peace commission; George
Creel. chairman of the Committee on
Public Information. and a group of
newspaper men. army and navy ad-
visers. international law specialists, Of
fetal photographers and secret serv-
ice men.
With a low-flying seaplane overhead
and the great Dreadnought Pennsyi-
vania, flagship of Rear Admiral Mayo,
leading the way, the George Wash
ington, conveyed by a feet of swift
destroyers. felt her way through. the
gate OF the submarine net that guards
New York harbor. On the shore ZOO
Staten Island school children, each
waving an American flag. cried a final
"Godspeed."
Black smoke poured from the fun
nels Of Americas ships, and a mist
seemed to envelop them as they pass
ed over the horizon. Americas first
President to cross the Atlantic was at
last on his journey with message
Of freedom for the world"