Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-06-19
Commander Of Atlantic Fleet Watched Smelling Terror From Bridge
OF Broke-AdmraI Made Many Trips to Europe During
fHsls. the War Played an Important Part in Direc-
i a. ~ ton Of Naval Part of War.

New York.-When Admiral Henry 7.
Mayo, commander in chief of the At
lantic feet, went to Europe, as he DID
several times during the course Of the
war. he was known to oil on board.
with the exception Of the commanding
officer Of the ship, as Mr.. Wing. When
Admiral Sims went over Immediately
following the declaration Of war in
April. 1917, he was booked as "Mr.
Richardson" while Captain Babcock.
who was Admiral Sims aid, was Mr..
Robertson.
It is probable that no officer in any
Of the allied navies played more i'm
portant part In the direction of the
naval part Of the war, after April.
1917. than did Admiral Mayo, the COM
mander Of the Atlantic feet. It Is also
certain that no prominent officer APP
peared fewer times in the public print
than did Admiral Mayo. The other
day an officer Of the feet, who was
close to Admiral Mayo during the war,
and who knows the story Of the ad-
miral's war activities, told 1t for the
first time.
II guess it's all right" said this Of
ficer, NOW that the ships of the navy
are home and admirals' flags are wav-
ing peacefully and calmly in the Sc
curity Of yards and docks. stories of
experiences abroad are coming in with
the drift of conversation In the ward
room, and in the quarter deck. It is
all over now, official reports have been
made, the censor's tightening grip has
been loosened on his rubber stamp,
and even men bound down by the iron
clad rules Of Operations" are known
to spin q yarn.
I'm all Of the sea travel that came
to ranking officers Of the United States
navy none has attained the ocean
crossings accomplished by Admiral
Henry T. Mayo during the war. If the
log Of the writer Is correct all of these
voyages except two were made in the
winter. His first trip across was in
1917 and was made under the most
secretive of movements. Again he
went over with his entire staff, and
returning on the Mauretania early last
December was taken off this ship on
tender in Gravesend bay, hurried to
his flagship, the o. 8. s. Pennsylvania,
In the New York navy yard, the follow
ing day sailing as the escort to Presi-
dent Wilson on his first trip abroad.
Arriving at Brest he turned right
around again and brought the fleet
home. Then he went to Cuba, and re-
turning visited New York for the usual
April recreation period of the feet.
Inspects the Navles.
ut was while on his second trip
abroad that Admiral Mayo made prob
ably the most extensive tour Of in
spection made by any commanding Of
acer during the war. With members
Of his staff he visited not only the
American and English navies. but also
every branch Of the allied forces in
Europe. It was on this trip that he
was entertained by both the English
and Italian kings.
ut was this continued voyaging of
the admiral which caused some one to
remark at the Army and Navy club in
Washington that Of all the officers in
the navy. Admiral Mayo was continual
ly on the wing.
. And most appropriately replied a
civilian traveller on an ocean liner
some months past, for I once knew
him as "Mr. Wing."'
Which let's the secret out. for when
In 1917 Admiral Mayo and his staff
sailed most quietly and secretively on
the st. Louis he was known as Mr..
Wing. He wore the dress Of civilian,
as did all Of the members Of his staff.
Only the ships commanding officer