Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-06
PRESIDENT SHIP
PROVES BUSY SCENE
After Leaving Harbor Wilson
Turns Attention to Mass
of Mail.
DINNER Is QUIET EVENT
Wireless Apparatus Keeps Ex-
ccutive in Close Touch
With Affairs.

ON BOARD THE l.. S. S. GEORGE
WASHINGTON. December (by wire
less to the Associated Press).-Presi-
dent Wilson spent most Of the first day
OF the trip or this steamship working
III his Office part OF his suite. After
acknowledging from the bridge the
greetings that were given him as the
ship put TO sea. he turned to the pile
oil letters and telegrams awaiting him
and spent several hours working with
his stenographcrs.
In the afternoon. on the advice of
his physician, Rear-Admiral Cary r
Crayson. he lay down and rested for a
time because Of slight cold that was
Later the President received calls
from officials on board. including the
Italian and French ambassadors. Fol-
together with Mrs. Wilson.
Tho presidential party dined quietly
In ths evening. being served by a wait
peror William and the Empress in tire
same suite on the trial trip Of, the
George Washington
The reports that the presidential
suite had been fitted up in Il luxurious
manner are untrue.
In the dining hall music was fur
nished by the ships band and a quar-
tet OF sailors.
The Presden, is keeping in touch
with official business by wireless.
The escorting dest:oyers. with the
battleship Pennsylvania leading the
column. are Keeping in close touch with
the steamship carrying the President.
MINE SWEEPERS Run
AHEAD OF STEAMER
Mine sweepers are running before
the bow OF the ship They are loaded
with steel billets TO insure thcir deep
drausht.
The weather is cold and misty. but
In the evening Mrs. Wilson released
from the George Washington carrier
pigeons bearing notes. of thanks to
of the arrangements made for the de-
parture.
The George Washington will steam
in at those islands. .
The weather to-day was clear and
cold. the pale sunlight making the os-
observation-disclosures. sff - -
The President slept late and took
breakfast with Mrs: Wilson. no other
with them at this meal. Afterward
the President worked with his stenog-
rapher and examined the official wire
applications for cleme1cy.
a pouch OF Official mail will be put
off at the Azores Sunday, and be hur-
"a destroyer.
The President has his own typewriter
on board. and Is using i at intervals
to deliver in France.
President Wilson to-day faced the
test that the American troops have
France. The American executive was
forced hastily to don life prcserver
and prepare to abandon a ship which
theoretically had been attacked by
submarine.
This afternoon the alarm bell and
the "buzzer' in the Presidents apart
IN - pn
Previously having been instructed by
GaPi s lis ose anS easd 9s Wso Wison
and led her to lifeboat. The Pres
iden, assisted Mrs. Wilson in adjust
ing her Ire preserver and they stood
Meantime. ali the ships company
was T,s doing Ing, the same as the President;
and the people on board the George
Washington could have abandoned the
ship in ten minutes
POWERFUL APPARATUS
SUPPLIED TO CRAFT
The George Washington and the
equipped with the mos, powerful i
transmitting apparatus, some OF which
This apparatus includes, on the Penn
sylvania. the mos, powerful trans
mitter set ON any United states naval
stations used ordinarily only for trans
atlantic messages. The George Wash
ington was alsc especially equipped.
On both ships were installed radio |
telephones and the newest type of low
power radio sets for use only in COM
munication from ship to ship. The |
George Washington and the Pennsyl- |
vania are thus able to communicate
with each other. and at the same time
receive messages from shore.
All messages for the President are
sent by the new naval high power sta
tion at Annapolis, which is five times |
as powerful as the Arlington station.
These messages are received by the |
George Washington and the pennsyl-
vania simultaneously. All replies are |
forwarded from the George Washington |
to the Pennsylvania and relayed to
shore by the Pennsylvania
AS the presidential party approaches
Europe. by arrangements of the Navy !
Department. special receiving stations
in both England and France will listen |
for messages from the Pennsylvania.
and one of the French high power sta
tions will forward messages direct to
the ship.
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