The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-07-25
BIG ARMADA SAILS
 F0R PACIFIC BASE; CEREMONY LACKING

utes. steamed out of Hampton Roads at $40 o'clock this morning on the first leg of a voyage that will end on the Pacific coast.
 The fleets departure caused joy to thousands of sailors, but brought sor- row and tears to scores of wives and sweethearts who stood on the pier at Old Point Comfort and on the beach at Cape Henry waving farewell to their loved ones on board the great ships that passed one at a time before them to disappear after a few min utes in the mist that hung low over the ocean a few miles from shore.
 There was little pomp or. ceremony. The departure of the fleet was a glorious sight-one that perhaps will never be seen again at any Atlantic port. Living up strictly to it's world wide reputation for action, the fleet got under way promptly on the min ute set for it's departure.
 Admiral Is Up Early. ''
 Admiral Hugh Rodman, commanding the great fleet. got up with the .gobs' this morning and he was on the deck of his flagship. the New Mexico, half an hour before it was time for his fleet to start At 8 o'clock the New Mexico flashed signal to all ships to run up it's colors. Bugles were sound ed first by the New Mexico. then by the Wyoming, then by the Mississippi by the Idaho. until it had been taken up by each ship one after the other. The last echo of @ bugle call from a destroyer that lay partly hidden in the mist two miles off the Government pier at Fort Monroe.
 This could not be heard on/the pier but is must have been heard on board the New Mexico, for hardly had it's sound been swallowed up in the slash lef- waves against the sides Of the great ships than the flagship ran up another signal and almost instantly signal men on every ship in the great fleet began to wigwag messages to and fro. What the messages were, cnly those on the ships knew, but they satisfied the commanding officer fof the great fleet, because another signal was run up on the flagship and almost instantly there was buzzing as if thousands of bees had been turned loose. Messages were being sent by wireless to the commanding officer.
 Fleet Moves Promptly.
 i It was exactly~S:30 o'clock when the i New Mexico flashed the signal get ch in m n O by $40 o'clock toward the open sea with the flagship leading the way. From the deck of the New Mexico, Ad- miral Rodman gazed through a sea
 glass. He saw each ship fall in line
 in it's proper place. and when the pro,
 cession was we'll under way he turned his gaze toward the open sea. He
 asked for and got almost instantly re- ports on weather conditions as far
 south as Hatteras. The reports in
 dicated rain and mist.
 It was not favorable day for the departure of so grand fleet to pro
 tect the shores of the Pacific but ar
 American warship and an American
 sailor has no fear of the weather ol anything else.
 The bands were playing when the
 last ship passed from view at Cape
 Henry. Hampton Roads was alive
 with ships at S:SO o'clock. It Wal practically deserted at $50. Thous
 ands of people who watched the de parture turned their way homeward , There were 32 ships in the big fleet
 16 of which were destroyers. Ther' were three vessels of the dreadnough , type, the New Mexico. Arizona ant , Wyoming; seven first class battle ships and six armored cruisers. 5 The fleet received a big send of } scores of naval officers from Nev : York and Hampton Roads and Wash . ington making special trips to see tn l ships steam away Admiral Hug Rodman in command of the fleet , was on the deck of his flagship. tn : New Mexico, when the ships got UT = der way. When the signal, get UT 1 der way" was flashed from the Ne' l Mexico, the great line of ships weigf I ed anchor almost simultaneously an j. in less than twenty minutes all C
 them were moving toward the Virgin
 ia Capes.
 10. 900 Men Sail
 D It is estimated that more than 10 co
 men will accompany the fleet unde s the command about 800 commissions l. officers. It was pointed out by Nav; i- authorities last night that conside e able proportion of the crews of tf If vessels have been replaced by me e from the Naval base at Hamptc d Roads. It is estimated that 1000 me
 from the Naval base have been a