The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-04
President Departs From the
White House Without
Announcing Plans.
TAKES MIDNIGHTTRAIN
Executive Said to Have Told
Senator People Were
With Him.
HIS FRIENDS CONCERNED
Officially Admitted Divided
Opinion May Weaken His
Hands Abroad.
special Despatch 10 THE srN.


WASHINGTON, Dec. >. - President
Wilson and party left here tonight
and will go aboard the George WASH
ington at Hoboken early tomorrow
morning to sail for Europe. No an.
nouncement concerning the Presi-
dents departure was made at the
White House. and throughout the day
mystery and uncertainty prevailed
concerning the plans, but in the eve
ming 1t developed that the party had
arranged to 90 aboard special train
before midnight.
The President had disposed OF
much of the outstanding work before
this morning. 1t is understood that
the special wire running between
Paris and the State Department kept
the President advised of develop
ments overseas practically up to the
hour of his departure and arrange
ments have been made whereby the
State Department will relay impor-
| tant messages to the Presidential ship
Via wireless.
Crowd Awaited Them.
The President and Mrs. Wilson
reached the Union Station and went
aboard their special train only few
minutes hefore the time set for the
train's departure. Apparently word
that they were on their way preceded
| them, for when the President and Mrs.
| Wilson stepped from their automobils
and started through the station there
, was fairly good sized crowd awaiting
| them.
! Cheers greeted the President. They
came principally from two long lines
or men in khaki. soldiers who were
! waiting for trains to take them away
from Washington. They formed two
! lines through which the Presidential
I party had to pass Cries of pheasant
| voyage" and good luck" appeared to
please the President greatly. for he
smiled broadly, waved his hand and
! shouted back thank you" in a voice
! that kept pace with the smile.
| Announcement OF the names of those
who are in the Presidents party was
withheld until within a few moments
l. OF the time set for the train to pull out
! OF the station. Besides the President
, the other members of the peace conf
mission travelling with Mr.. Wilson are
Robert Lansing. Secretary of State,
and Henry White of Baltimore, former
| Ambassador to France and Italy. Col.
F.. NJ House and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss,
the other members OF the commission
already are in France.
Others I'm the Party.
: The Presidents immediate party IL
composed of himself. Mrs Wilson.
Rear Admiral Cary 7. Grayson. tie
Presidents physician; George Cree.
chairman of the Committee on Public
/ Information; Gilbert Il. Close. confl-
dental clerk to the President; r. +.
Hoover, head usher at the White
House, and Miss Edith Benham, Mrs.
/ Wilson's secretary.
Others aboard the train were ScCrr-
/ tary and Mrs Lansing. Newton y.
! Baker. Secretary of War. who is not
going abroad at this time but will
leave the train at HOboken; John w.
( Davis, recently appointed Ambassador
! to Great Britain; Mrs. Davis, MIR.
! White, Mrs Benson, wife of Read AG-
miral w. :. Benson; Major and Mrs.
} Scott, Lieut. Commander Hatch, MIR,
I Harris, Mr.. Monier, Mr.. WclCh Sid
ney smith. the French Amba assador
and Nine. Jules j. JuSserand; tho
Italian Ambassador Count Di Cellere'
| the Countess hi Cellere and two chill
dren, and Col. II. IL. Jordan of tho
/ General Staff of the army, trtnsporta-
I ton officer.
Two Rumors in Circulation.
Two reports gained currency in
diplomatic circles concerning eN-
changes of views between the Presi-
dent and Premier Clcmeuceau Of
France over the question of demands
ing the cX:radition of the former Ger
man Kaiser to make him auswerabls
for his international crimes.
one was that the President had ac-
guessed in the position taken by Pre-
miers ClemenCeau. Lloyd George and
Orlando that eXtraditfOn measures
should be taken; and the other was
that the President preferred to wait
until he reached Paris before making
his viewpoint known. In the latter
case 1t is expected here that the En-
tente leaders will suspend action un-
Ill they have an opportunity person.
ally to consul. the President.
So far as surface indications showed
the President was not seriously dis
tUghcl 10y the cool reception of his
message III Congress yesterday or by
The Senate resolutions seeking to de-
clare the Presidency vacant while Ia
is away, The President is quoted as
! having informed one Senator on sun