The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-07-19
MIGHTY fleet
SAILS away TO-
PACIFIC COAST
- 'O
200 War Craft Leave Allan
tic By Way Of Canal
cBy international News seryice)

NEW INlkl NEWS, Ndy July
The proudeSt ships OF the mighty
fleet which henccfor,h will guard our
, Pacific shores sailed gu, Of Hampton
Roads today. bound on the long jour
ney 10 home waters.
Six OF the most powerful super
dreadnaughts in the world, twenty
three destroyers and three supply
ships formed the naval cavalcade
which left at full tide today under
command OF Admiral Hugh Rodman.
But before the fleet passes through
the Panama canal and begins moving
northward in the Pacific probably
fifty ships will be in line.
From every port on the Atlantic
seaboard fighting craft OF the Amerl-
can navy will meet up with the main
;tiappcns the first will not reach the
within six weeks or two months there
will be maSsed along the California,
IWashngton and Oregon coast line
nearly two hundred war craft OF
every description; fleet which will
remain permanently in these waters
and provide absolute protection for
EVERY exposed spot along the Pacific
coast.
No Noisy Farewell.
No salyo OF cannon from the shore
batteries at Fortress Monroe marked
the departure of the fleet today; no
..fumultuous farewell was blasted BY
harbor craft There was, strangely
enough, in the sailing away OF the
flee, a certain solemnity and grim
ness unusual for peace times.
Shortly before $50 m, the order
for departure was flashed from ship
10 ship and a, once there was feverish
activity. Anchors were weighed and
ships made shipshape for the voyage.
-Four deStroyers moving abreast,
started out OF the Road to the sea
When the New Mexico, flagship OF
the fleet, the greatest ship in the
navy, perhaps the most powerful III
the world, moved maiestically around
and pointed her nose toward the
bread Atlantic, the voyage Of
ficially began.
The Mississippi, sister ship of the
New Mexico, followed and then in
order omyed the Wyoming, Arkansas.
New York and Texas. They were
flankcd on both sides by nineteen tor
Mdo boats with the supply ships
Prairie, Melville and Vestal, bringing
up the rear.
An average speed of about II knots
is expected to be maintained during
the sailing time OF the fleet TO San
Francisco.
May Not Arrive Till August.
There will be numerous stops along
thc way, and unless the unexpected
fleet Others will travel alone and
California metropolis until August 20
1t is expected ina, the fleet will
reach Cristobal on the Atlantic side
n the Panama Canal on July rs,
Locking through, together with stops
neans that the fleet will not emerge
into the Pacific until July 30, per
haps later. II all depends upon how
speedy passage can be made through
the artificial waterway and the time
mat will be spent in the harbors at
both ends OF the canal.
San Diego will be reached August
8. A day will be spent there on
August 10 and then the fleet will
make the one-day trip to San Pedro.
where i, will remain probably a week
departure from that point depends
largely upon the movements Of the
secretary Of the navy Daniels, as it is
expected that the flagship will pick
him up either at San Diego or San
Pedro and take him on TO San Fran
tisco, which port the fleet is expected
10 make on August 20
Alter reaching san Francisco, some
u the ships will be assigned at once
70 patrol duties, but the flagship and
certain others will sail on August a
dor Honolulu arriving there August
II. Six days in Honolulu and then
the ships will go to Hilo, arriving
S<ptember 7 and leaving September g.
The last lap of the Journey will be
from Hilo to Bremerton, Wash, which
will be reached on September II.
The fleet, or what is left of it, then
will be dispersed and along with the
Others already in Pacific ports will
furnish the coast with protection
against any possible foes.
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