Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-12-11
PRESIDENT OFF ;EOn EUROPE.
Sailed December 4th on tho Trans
port George Washington.

New York, Dec. 4.-BOund on a
mission, tho principal objects Of
which arc the abolition Of militarism
and tae attainment OF a just world
peace. Woodrow Wilson, the first
President Of the United States to
visit Europe while In office, was to-
night speeding across the Atlantic
seward France to attend the great
est international conference in the
history of the world.
On the transport George Washing
ton, one-time German passenger
liner, manned by a naval crew. and
with deck guns ready for action, and
accompanied by a naval convoy, the
President left New York harbor to-
day amid demonstration without
parallel in the history of the port.
TIL, President took his place on
tho flying bridge as the great ship
moved down the bay River craft
and ships Of many nations dipped
flags and footed whistles, and thou
sands Of people bade him God-speed
in cheers and flag-wavings from sky
scrapers and from piers.
or quarantine, where Staten Island
throngs waved and shouted second
farewell, and monitors, gunDoat" ond
artillerymen at Fort Hamilton joined
in saluting gunfire. the George " ash
ingtoH mot lis ocean conyoy-the gu
perdreadnaught Pennsylvania and q
quintet Of destroyers. With her pffi-
cfal consort and other dcstroyers
which joined the feet for a cruise to
tho limit Of American territorial
waters, the George Washington dis
appeared over the eastern horizon
shortly after noon.
To Crush Militarism.
Mr.. Wilson left his native shores,
according to persons who conferred
with him before the George Wash
ington sailed. determined against
militarism in any form. He feels
that the crushing Of Prussian mill
tarism Is part of his plan for the flu
ture peace of the world, the inform
ants said.
In emphasis, it seemed, of Amer
ica's part In bringing about Ger
many's downfall. the Presidential
party, outbound, met some of the
American hosts returning from over
secs. Two thousand home. coning
aviation troops on the Lapland
cheered the George Washington as
she left her pier, and outside quar-
antine the Minnehaha was sighted
Steaming up the harbor with more
than 5000 soldiers as passengers.
Mayo In Command.
In command Of Admiral Mayo the
peace squadron Is heading, it is un-
derstood. for Brest, an American de-
barkation port in France. It's date
OF arrival Is uncertain, but a quick
passage is not required, as ample
time remains for conferences pre-
liminary to the main peace assem-
blage. Off the French coast the
President will be welcomed by a
squadron OF American war ships.
French. British and Italian vessels.
also. 1t is expected, will join in the
greeting at sea, which will be follow
ed by a succession OF official ceremo-
MES marking the progress of the
American executive to Paris. to the
war front, and presumably to the
capitals Of Great Britain, Belgium
and italy.
Prominent Men.
The liners passenger list contains
group Of prominent names, proba-
bly, without parallel for any single
voyage in the annals Of shipping.
With the President are two Of his
fellow delegates to the peace conter-
ence-'-Secretary OF state Robert
Lansing and Henry White. former
ambassador to France and Italy,
who Will !!cin Col. r. NJ. House and
Gen. Tascar II. Bliss. already in Gu
rope. Guests Of the Chief Executive
included the !'rench and Italian an,-
bassadors; John w. Davis, the nawt,
appointed ambassador 10 Great Bri.
tain; high Laval aid military al.
thorttics, representatives. OF the va
rious government departments. and
4 star Of specialists 10 advise the
American peace commission on prob
lens OF loi:'iral, economical. trade
and racial characteristics Of nat. ne
affected by he war.
Mrs. Wilstn n, together with III, |
wives Of :'r.retary Lansing, Amhas-
saGor Davis and the F'ench and l.al- |