Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-06-27
Commander Of Atlantic Fleet Watched Smelling Terror From Bridge
Of Broke-Admlral Made Many Trips to Europe During
the War Played an important Part In Direc-
tlOn of Naval Part of War;

New YOrk.-When Admiral Henry 7.
nEayo, commander In chief Of the At
lantic fleet, went to Europe, as he did
several times during the course Of the
war, he was known to all on board.
with the exception Of the commanding
officer Of the ship, as Mr.. Wing. When
Admiral Sims went over..immedlately
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.
1t Is probable that no officer In any
Of the allied navies played more Inn
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. 1t Is also
certain thar no prominent officer ap-
peared fewer times In the public print
than did Admiral Mayo The other
day an officer OF the fleet, who was
close to Admiral Mayo during the war,
and who knows the story Of the adj
mirals war activities, told it for the
first time.
Il guess it's all right" said this Of
fcer "now that the ships Of the navy
are home and admirals' flags are way
ing peacefully and calmly In the Sc
curlty 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. 1t 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 yarn.
'In 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 has in
1917 and was made under the most
-secretlve of movements. Again he
went over with his entire staff, and
returning on the Mauretania early last
December was taken Off this ship on a
tender In Gravesend bay, hurried to
his flagship, the U. S. 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 feet
nome. Then no went to Cuba, and re-
turning visited New York for the usual
April recreation period Of the fleet
lnspects the NavIes.
ut was while on his second trip
abroad that Admiral Mayo made prob
ably the most extensive tour Of In
specti0n made by any commanding Of
hcer during the war. With members
of his staff he visited not only the
American and English navies, but also
WHY VI lliC utllCQ AOAtC6 AL
Europe. 1t was on this trip that he
was entertained by both the English |
and Italian kings.
1T 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.
sand most appropriately replied
civilian traveller. on ian ocean liner
some months past. FOR / once knew
him as "Mr. Wing."'
Which lets 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 a civilian,
as did all of the members Of his staff.
Only the ships commanding officer