Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-19
GREAT ARMADA
SETS OUT FOR
The PACIFIC
Fleet Sails for Western Sta
ton in Soft Breeze and
Brilliant Sunshine.

Old Point Comfort, Va. July 1s.-
The vanguard Of the Pacific fleet
sailed from its anchorage here at $3.50
O'clock this morning, bound for the
western coast via the Panama canal.
No unusual ceremonies marked the
and 80 destroyers and tenders which
are leading the way for the 200 naval
craft now assigned to Pacific waters.
The beginning of the voyage marks
an epoch in American naval history.
For the first time the feet has been
divided with exactly 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
Rodman moves his armada through
the 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.
Through the night the great feet
| lay blinking and winking its count
less messages across the silent road
stead. The big. dim battlecraft and
the slim destroyers, vague shapes with
brilliant eyes of light under a cloud
among themselves in the dark.
Daybreak brought colorful sun
rise poking long crimson fingers OF
light past the capes to awaken the
ships for the eventful hour In from
the Atlantic also came the last tide
to serve them, swinging them bow or
for the start. 80
| Admiral Rodman had set $3.50 fol
the sailing hour. He would tolerate ne
delay; wait for no stragglers his cap.
tains were told with characteristic
\ fnrNn Tho RHCf cs,r6 r6oa ,oxx n
gigs and motor sailors hurrying or
last minute errands. The roadsteaG
was busy. with them. Below deck.
stokers toiled and black smoke clouds
rose over the heet. ~.
j Gradually the stir died away Boa
/ after boat was hoisted, dripping to it.
chocks, on deck. Nimble, barefootet
jackies hastened to their tasks %
lashing and making all shipshap'
aboard for the voyage. The whit,
jackets Of the officers and men stoot
out plainly against the grim grey wa
paint.
! Ashore little groups of wet-eyes
women, sailors wives or sweethearts
crowded dockhead and verandas t.
wave God speed.
At 3 o'clock the bugles called soft
ly from the fleet The hurrying Whit
figures on each wide deck were sud
denly STILL 1t was 'colors" and as tn
strains Of the distant bands rose ant
fell on the breeze, afloat and ashore
men In the white or the navy or II
army khaki stood rigidly at attention
facing the bright flags flung from ev
cry staff in the grey fleet. -
\ At moment all was hurryfnl
! again. The sun picked out the bras
work of the ships to set it glowing
1t caught and colored strings of nag
from signal arms, showed clear tn
gesturing boards of semaphores ol
high bridge ends, helped jackies will
waving arms send jerky greetings t,
comrades on other ships. The blindini
blue flicker Of the daylight drinkers
joined in here and there. The men o
the fleet wexe talking now and mes
sages criss-croased each other all III
and down the long line under tn
shifting smoke pail.
i Promptly at $3.50 destroyer stol,
slowly out from its place in line be
of signal flags on the New Mexic'
whore Admiral Rodman's four starrc.
flag tapped lazfly above the hooded
top Of the tall cage mast, showed thA
the order had been given to begin tn
voyage. The destroyer swung towar.
the sea. tripping smoothly down tn
channel. Another followed and thel
another, spaced at perfect intervals
They formed lane toward, the sea
drawn up in two columns
First to leave her anchorage. tn
flagship New Mexico circled slowl,
and swung into tho water lane be
tween tho destroyers
On her heels came the MissiaBippl
looking like sistership with lonl
overhanging PROV. In order, the wy
4 oming, Arkansas, New York and Te1a
steamed down the moving lane. tn
. tenders closed in behind and tn
whole fleet moved of across the ba;