Republican farmer., 1919-07-25
Sailing OfFZeet Marks Epoch h History N
 United States NUUu
Wet-Eyed Women Bid Goodbye to Relatives
 From Dock. MARKS COMPLETE CHANGE OF POLICY
Most Powerful Armada We Have Ever Sent to
 Guard Pacific.

olu IO1Ilt OOluIOTt, va, J ulN 19-The Vanguard of the Pa clflc fleet sailed from its an- chOrage here at S:3O o'clock this morning bound for the western coast via the Panama Canal. No unusual ceremonies marked the departure of the six superdreadnaughts and 30 destroyers and tenders which are leading the way for the 200 naval craft flow assigned to Pa cific waters.
 The beginning of the voyage marks an epoch in American naval history For the first time the fleet has been divided with exact half of Its power assigned to guard the western sea- board. For the first time also the strategic value of the canal is to be fully tested when Admiral Hugh Rod man moves his armada through to Pacific waters. And for the first time Americans of the far west are to see with their own eyes the full pomp and power of the navy that has been their pride for years.
 Daybreak brought a colorful sun rise poking long crimson fingers of light past the capes to wake the ships for the eventful hour.
 Ashore little groups of wet-eyed women, sailors wives or sweethearts crowded dockhead and verandas to wave God speed.
 At eight o'clock the bug1es called la,, white figures on each wide deck were suddenly still. It was "colors'' and as the strains of the distant bands rose and fell on the breeze. afioat and ashore, men in the white of the navy or in army kha Xxi stood rigidly at at tention, facing the bright flags flung from every staff in the gray fleet.
 Promptly at S:30 a destroyer stole slowly out from its place in line be- hind the battleships A double string of signal flags on the New Mexico. where Admiral Rodman's four starred emblem Tapped lazily above the hooded top of the tall cage mast, showed that the order had been given to begin the voyage The destroyer swung toward the sea tripping smooth down the channel. Another followed, and then another, spaced at perfect intervals. They formed lane toward the sea, drawn up in two columns.
 First to leave her anchorage, the flagship New Mexico circled slowly and swung into the water lane be- tween the destroyers.
 On her heels came the Mississippi, looking like sister ship with long overhanging prov. In order, the Wyoming, Arkansas, New York and Texas steamed down the moving lane, the tenders closed in behind and the whole fleet moved off across the bay to the open
 Once at sea, the destroyers will form a triangle about battleship dt- visions which will steam in double column inside this protection at + knot gait. At sea, also, some where along the line the great dreadnaughts Idaho and Arizona will join as will the scout cruiser Blr- minsham, flagship of the active Pa cific destroyer force
 The sailing of the great fleet today marks a complete change in naval policy, a change outgroW1ng out or the defeat of Germany in the great war. Not while the German fleet ex- sted nor while German eyes were eveIled covetously at the rich ana lndeveloped resources of South and Central America could American na- | val strength have been divided.
 The composition of the Pacific fleet .ells its own story. The three most modern ships of the line in the navy, the New Mexico Idaho and MISSES sippi, are headed west. The people Of the western coast are to see for the first time the ships of this type at sea.
 Not since President Roosevelt sent the Atlantic fleet to g1rdle the globe have the people of California, Oregon and Washington seen in their harbors more powerful andi modern fighting craft than the old hero ship Oregon, long out of date and retains her place In the navy list only because of her valiant record Beside the 30,0OO ton flagship of the Pacific fleet the Oregon will be almost a pigmy against even the speed of more than IT knots which made the old ship queen of the navy for years, Rodman's main fleet, l has eight big ships, can maintain about 21 knots for hours at a time. l while his destroyers can turn up 35.