Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-05
M0ISANDS 0f FLAGS GA|Ly DECORATE PIER
 FROM WHICH GEORGE WASHINGTON SAuE[
Nothing Resembling Democratic Simplicity of the Fathers-ship Floating Palace With All Com forts and Conveniences Found
 in Modern City

ship
 Secretary Baker left the George Washington before it got under way. Secretary Tumulty, however, re- mainsd on board for a final confer ence, with the President and it had been arranged for a tug boat to take him eff at Quarantine and bring him Lack to the city.
 President and Mrs. Wilson had breakasft alone in their suite. Later they walked on the ships deck,
 President in High Spirits.
 The President. in high spirits, said he was looking forward to the voy- age as rest-indeed the first real rest since he assumed office He re- marked that it might be !" an enforc- ed rest for a few days thus acK- nowledging his reputation ofr being a very poor sailor. The George Wash ington with it's. convoy of war ves- sels will take the southern route, go- ing by way of the Azores in order to avoid the colder temperatures which would be encountered on the northern route
 An office desk ill the Presidents suite was piled high with telegrams and official documents and indica- tions were that the President would plunge into this work even before the George Washington got out to sea. A wireless telegram is expect ed to he received by the President late today from Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, announcing the ac- ceptance or rejection of the treasury secretaryship by the man to whom it has been offered.
 Fires Presidential Salute
 With the President waving his hat to cheering throngs atoard river craft which crowded nearby waters, the George Washington turned her head toward the sea shortly after 10:30 o'clock As she strengthened 21 guns thundered from the trans ports guns. The big ship backed more than half way across the river before she turned and when two de- strOyers and naval tug took her in escort the maneuver was witness ed by multitude of persons crowd ing roofs and upper windows of New York skyscrapers and piers on both sides of the Hudson.
 The tug took a position directly ahead of the George Washington, stopping all crossstream traffic and clearing path, while the destroyers ranged along either side.
 A squadron of airplanes dropped from the clouds and executed loops above the Presidents ship.
 stc cfc or toward the sea with the George Washington's band playing and with harbor craft dipping flags and toot- ing whistles
 New York, Dec 4.-LOng before President Wilson's special train arriv- ed from Washington today there was unusual activity about dock No. 4 at Hoboken, where the transport George Washington was moored. Workmen were busy throughout the night put ting on the finishing touches on the liner and. completing the elaborate decorations of the pier.
 The usual barred zone was widely extended and only those armed with special passes were allowed to ap- proach the streets leading to the dock. military police kept an all night vigil over the route from the railroad sta- tion to the pier, while hundreds of the secret service and of the army and navy intelligence services watched the side streets and kept inqulsltive persons on the move.
 War vessels kept a ceaseless patrol of the waters near the transport while at dawn army airplanes circled over the vicinity and maintained scratch from the air. Perhaps never before have such elaborate plans been map ped out to guard the President.
 The long pier was gayly decorated with thousands of flags and bunting. A canopy, consisting of mass of Amer imam flags and emblems of the allies. extended over the gang plank. Stewards and their assistants work ed we'll into the night comulet:ag their arrangements for the comfort of the party. Monographs were install ed in the gentlemen's smoking room and the ladies' lounging room, the records ranging all the way from pgrand opera selections to popular war songs and jazz band music.t Half a ed6zen card tables were nailed to the floor: of the. smoking room, while the library was replenishsd with hlstert, cal and scientific books: o..o.-.o<
 Continued on page five)