Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-06
PRESIDENTS SHIP
ON QUICKEST ROUTE
The George Washington viii
Reach Her Destination on
Eighth Day of Voyage

ON BOARD PRESIDENTS SHIP.
March 5. tBy the Associated Press.)-
The George Washington with President
Wilson on board Is heading along the
quickest route to France and is expected
to reach her destination on the eighth
day of the voyage. President Wilson
was up early this morning, taking his
breakfast at 7:30 o'clock. He then began
the work he mapped out for the voyage,
which he is anxious to make as brief as
possible so that his return to Paris may
be hastened.
The President has received hundreds
of kilograms from all parts of the United
states regarding his position on the league
of nations plan.
The presidential steamer was escorted
TO sea by many seaplanes and dirigible.
The armored cruiser Montana will escort
her across the Atlantic, with the destroy
ers which accompanied her from New
York, going only part of the way.
New York, March 5.-President Wilson
sailed to-day on his second voyage to
France determined, as he said in his
Metropolitan opera house speech here last
night. not to come back till it's over
over there" The transport George
party left the Hoboken pier at s15
a. m.
The chief executives departure was
marked by simplicity which con-
trasted with the noisy demonstration
accorded him when the George Washing
ton carried Mr.. Wilson from American
waters on his first journey to Paris
last December
To-day only small crowd was
assembled at the army transport pier
To these the President, hat in hand, and
Mrs. Wilson waved farewell greetings
as the George Washington swung out
into the lower Hudson river while the
band on the transport Great Northern
oerthed nearby, played "The Star
Spangled Banner" Standing on the
bridge, the President and Mrs. Wilson
saw the American flag raised on the staff
at the stern and heard the booming of
the presidential salute of q guns AS
the transport turned her nose toward the
Statue of Liberty in the almost strike
paralyzed harbor. an escort of DESTROY
ers got under way ahead
The President and Mrs. Wilson had
ascended to the bridge shortly after eight
o'clock. Mr.. Wilson had been up and
about the decks for nearly two hours.
having been the first of the presidential
party to arise Most of the others were
asleep when the transport sailed
Just as the George Washington was
about to sail it was discovered that some
one had neglected 10 bring aboard the
morning newspapers. The lines had been
mace fast to the gangplank which was
ABOUT to be drawn in when the President s
orderly. clutching a new dollar bill in his
pier and hurried through the flag
decorated archway to a newsstand. where
he purchased the papers and came rum
ning back to the ship. This incident de-
layed for few minutes the vessels de-
parture
lhese papers contained the text of the
speeches Of the President and William
howard Taft, in support of the League
OF Nations, at the opera house last night.
Ihey told also of the activities of the
president on the eve of his departure.
III was few minutes before midnight
when Mr. Wilson arrived in Hoboken and
1t was early morning before he reached
his stateroom, so that his sleep was only
brief
Ihe President arrived at the Metropoli-
| tan Guerra House about S:15 O'Clock last
night. After Mr. Taft and himself had
spoken the President asserting that IAN
| overwhelming majority of the American
people is In favor of the League of Ma
tons, Mr.. Wilson received a delegation
or irish Americans with whom he dis
cussed the aspirations of Ireland at the
peace conference. Militant Sufrragettes
mad tried unsuccessfully to force their
| way INTO the opera house earlier in the
evening and few of them were arrested.
/ Fhn L.
| tine at $40 A. M, and was saIuted nv .,
guns by the L. S. S. Amphitrite, and bv
whistle blowing by all the steam craft
in the lower bay.