The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-04


The big ship backed more than half
way across the river before she turned
and when two destroyers and naval
tug took her in escort, for the trip down
the bay, the maneuver was witnessed by
a multitude of persons crowding roofs
and upper windows of New York sky
scrapers and piers on both sides of the
Hudson.
The tug took position directly ahead
of the George Washington, stopping all
cross stream traffic and clearing path
toward Quarantine, while the destroyers
ranged along either side, As the feet
started down the bay squadron of air
planes executed series Of daring loops
above the presidents ship.
The liner and its convoy steamed to-
wal the sea with the George Washing.
tons band playing martial airs and with
harbor craft of all types, including many
allied merchant ships, dipping flags and
footing whistles. Off Staten island the
George Washington met its ocean con-
voy--the dreadnought Pennsylvania and
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coats of battleship gray.
As the squadron passed through the
gate in the submarine net which stretches
across the narrows and within 500 feet
of the Staten island shore, group of
several hundred school children was
transformed into sea Of waving flags.
The presidential feet passed quaran-
tine at IL o'clock, the Pennsylvania lead
ing and the destroyers deployed on either
side and in the wake of the transport.
Gunboats in the lower bay fred salvos in
salute.
As the squadron steamed out to sea a
single, airplane, travelling only so feet
above the water, could be seen leading
the way toward the eastern horizon
Welcome to Returning Soldiers Too.
Across the waters of the Hudson Just
rs the George Washington was about to
sail there came the roaring cheers of
more than 1000 American soldiers re-
turning to American shores on the Brit
ish transport Lapland. From crowded
rigging, from densely packed rails, and
from every portfolio the home coming
fighting men shouted greetings to their
president; and from the decks Of the
presidential liner and the destroyers
guarding her answering cheers came
back.
The river craft and shore line crowds
which had gathered to bid the president
farewell joined in the demonstration of
welcome for the Lapland.
Above the river an airplane looped the
loop, bands played on the pier of the
Lapland and police boat, bearing May
or Hylan and other city officials to greet
the soldiers, while fire boats shot streams
of water high in the air.
The Lapland left Liverpool on Nov. %,
and battled with icy gales during most
of her voyage.
Among the men aboard the liner were
80 wounded, six Russian army and navy
officers on their way to Vladivostok and
a number of American naval officers. All
the rest were members of the aviation
corps who have been stationed in Eng
land. The boys who cannot yet return
to America also were represented on the
transport by their letters ito the folks
back home," 4,254 sacks Of soldier mail
being brought in.
An unofficial, but no less enthusiastic
feature of the farewell to the president
was salute fired by enlisted men of
the coast artillery corps at Fort Hamil-
ton. Though Captain Scott, in command,
had no authority to order salute from
the heavy cannon, his men, determined
to honor the president, dragged machine
guns to the heights and kept up a con-
tinuous rapid fire while the feet steamed
by.
Before the George Washington left Ho-
boken, Mayor Griffin presented to Mr..