Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-01

transport George Washington. select ed by President Wilson to convey to Europe himself and other members Of the American delegation to the peace conference, will be- conveyed by the battleship Pennsylvania and fleet of five destrOyers.
 To Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, commander of the cruiser and trans port forces of the Atlantic fleet, fell the honor of providing for the presi- of the voyage and the protecting force of war vessels. Captain Edward Mc- Cauley U. s. N., commands the George Washington and the crew has been drawn entirely from the navy The escorting battleships is com handed by Captain Lewis Newton.
 The George Washington vessel of 9557O gross tons, was formerly one of the crack liners of the North German Lloyd fleet. Although she has been used as a troop transport for more than year, many of her luXur- Ous cabin suites were not removed and the best of these have been re- served for the presidential party. When launched in 1908 the ship was named by Dr. David Jayne Hill, the American Ambassador to Germany, and it was the only large German yes sel seized by the United States the name of which was not changed Ca- pable of making about 21 knots speed at that time, American marine engin- eers have improved her engines and it is possible that she will establish Ia new record for herself on the com ing voyage.
 Admiral Gleaves was commander of the protecting fleet of warships that escorted the first contingent of the American expeditiOnary forces and since then, from his office in Hoboken, he has directed the work of protect ng the movements of troop and sup ply transports from enemy subma- flnes It was in recognition of this Euecessful achievement that at~President Wilson recently designated him for romotion to the rank of vice-admiral. The exact time of the departure of me George Washington is not yet known, but today the engines of the big liner were given a last testing out at the Hoboken dock <. which she is made fast prepared for the arrived of ne presidential party. The ship is ly hg convenient to a spur track over which the presidents train will ar lve. The pier and track will be under guard of soldiers and sailors and sec ret service men.
 London, Nov. 30-President Wilson sv, oil Aelhood will be escorted to Brest only American warships but by ormldable array of them. In view tne lack of official notification re- afdlng MT. Wilson's trip it is under 'ood that neither the French nor the DlAlsh governments have been re- uested to aid in the naval reception. ae British authorities, however, un- Aclally are discussing plans to well ome the American president should come here.
 american battleship commanders, aupaDly all nine of them in these aers, are understood to be holding uemselyes in readiness to proceed to point 100 miles or SO off Brest to est the presidential liner and the s,.!esnip accompanying it across the .'antlc. It is probable that twenty uur u american torpedo boat destroyers r m, loln in the reception.
 inere IS no likelihood, it is stated s'el mat the warships will proceed
 lar the mid-Atlantc for the meet s as has been stated.
 ~ mwasnlngton, Nov. 30.-Seldom has as 1 utterance of President Wilson hsn n awaited with greater interest 1u me annual address he is to deliv- e, monaay at the opening of the win
 session of congress and on the " ", ot his departure for Europe to at ha al .ne peace conference. Members of oma.a Senate and House expect to hear nrss.nlng of American lans for the 'ence, as we'll as an outline of asass esaecutive's views of legislation sueu .s to aid in the task of .readjust- asos ue war-organized country to
 io;a. io;a.ngements were made today for o~sa ' session in the hall of the tsr s0 "a at l o'clock Monday afternoon ct;t,. congressional leaders had been
 IVY h. that the president desired to s.;os uesea on the first day of the new
 a usu instead of on the second day, rfns. m order to hasten his de-
 @ s.s: me address will constitute
 n nsSe'oye ~ to congress and through il os s people, for he is expected to
 oH'cial comment was forthcom-