The sun., 1919-07-19
NEW PACIFIC FLEET
WILL SAIL TO-DAY
Eight Superdreadnoughts, 25
Destroyers and Others
Await Signal to Start.
WILL GO THROUGH CANAL
Additional Ships to Join
Armada Later as Docking
Facilities Are Increased.

OLD POINT COMFORT. Va, July 49,
Riding at anchor in barely visible lines
OF here tonight more than two score
ships OF the new Pacific feet, Admiral
Hugh Rodman commanding, awaited
the signal that will set them moving to-
morrow on the road to home waters in
the Pacific Ocean. Admiral Rodman
had set s 80 A. NJ. as his sailing time.
The whole armada will be In motion at
that time not to stop again until the
eastern approach to the Panama Canal
is reached.
The feet assembled here to-day was
dreadnoughts. including the three most
modern and powerful craft OF the navy
now in full commission, were anchored
in two lines. Admiral Rodman's flag
ship, the New Mexico. was close in to
the landing stage, heading one column
with his four starred blue flag fluttering
lazily at the main truck. The Wyoming
flagship OF the second division of battle
ships, headed the second column. In the
third line, stretching away for miles
across the roadstead, lay the destroyers
twenty-five of which will lead the way 10
sea Tomorrow when the signal Is given.
Three armored cruisers, the battleship
Minnesota, Golfers, supply ships. de-
stroyer mother ships and other auxiliary
craft were anchored with the fleet. They
also are part of the Pacific fleet as are
other pre-dreadnaughts and seventy mine
other destroyers now at various Allan
tic yards BY the end of September
Capt. Twining. Admiral Rodman's chief
of staff said to-day, all but the re-
serve destroyers to be held in the At
lantic pending development of facilities
for their care In the Pacific, will have
Joined the main force in the Pacific
There was little stir or excitement to-
day marking the great undertaking
about to be commenced: : that OF transfer
ring more than half n million tons OF
fighting ships and their auxiliaries and
$4,000 officers and men TO the Pacific
Ocean. At the Beach" barges. gigs and
motor sailers were coming and going all
day and far into the night. The shift
ing groups Of officers, bluejackets and
marines appeared no more excited than
II their sailing orders were for New York
or Guantanamo.
The navy has grown accustomed to
long voyages during the war. Many OF
the men now bound for peaceful duty
In the Pacific and nearly all of the ships
that will take them are veterans of the
struggle against German submarines in
the North Sea. Most Of the fleet person
mel have made trip after trip across the
Atlantic in destroyers or transports in
the last few months. 1t was an old
story for them. lacking the thrill that
went with the sending of the battle
ship fleet around the world in 1908.
Few Relatives Appear.
At the hotels a few relatives of off,
GERS had gathered for a farewell visit
Their number was strikingly small.
Families of most of the men who are to
remain now in Pacific ports for months
OF years TO come are either on the way
west themselves or preparing to go.
The feet itself apparently was COM
pletey ready. There was no last min
ute coaling. Battleship or destroyer all
those going out tomorrow rode deep In
the water with filled bunkers and brim-
ming fuel tanks. For some hours a navy
barge lay alongside the New Mexico
and a red flag at the ships forema sthead
told OF ammunition for her great guns
being slowed away. That was all OF
preparation that could be seen.
During the day Admiral Rodman called
his division commanders and captains
aboard the flagship for conference
There was much handshaking on the
broad white quarterback. where the
group gathered, as officer after officer
came oversize to the shrir of the
boatswains whistle and the snap of the
marine guard to present arms" It was
only a short talk however. for all the
work OF making ready had been done
long before. Each commander had his
orders.
AS darkness fell tonight and the watch
lamps Of the fleet showed at masthead
the blinking of strings of red and white
globes told the ships were talking among
themselves. There was no pressure OF
final work for the departure. however
and the armada rode peacefully. but
with steam slowly making in their boil
ers, in preparation for the morning an6
the order to "Shoye off"