The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-09

operations at Paris.
 As result the vessel will leave
 New York for Brest at the earliest
 opportunity, probably next Friday
 afternoon.
 Admiral Benson's message gave
 no reason for the Presidents or
 der and the White House professed
 to have no information on the sub
 ject, but Interpreting it in the light
 of press dispatches from Paris tell
 ing of the President's determina-
 ton that delays at the peace con-
 ference must end, most officials re-
 garded 1t as significant.
 Added importance also was given
 by the fact that this was the sec
 cnd message from the admiral re-
 garding the ships departure, the
 first, received yesterday, having in-
 quired as to the time the vessel
 could get under way.
 Admiral Benson's cablegram to the navy department was summarized in this statement by Acting Secretary Roosevelt:
 ROOSEVELTS STATEMENT
 Acting Secretary of the Navy Roose- velt late today received a cablcgram from Admiral Benson at Paris requesting that the sailing of the U. S. S. George Washington be expedited at once by di- rection of the President. The U. s. S.. George Washington will, therefore, leave New York at the earliest opportunity. probably Friday afternoon, April H."
 By fast steaming the George Washing ton should reach Brest by April IT, She would be held there subject to the Presi- dents orders, it was said, and thus would be immediately available in the event MT Wilson should decide to cut short his stay at Paris because of delays in agree ing on the terms of peace.
 Tn some quarters it was explained that without his ship at French port the President might find himself in some what embarrassing position should he de- eide to leave the French capital before the treaty had been agreed upon.
 Late press dispatches from Paris in dicated that more hopeful view as to the progress of the peace negotiations was entertained than had been for sev- eral days and this view was reflected in q cablegram received tonight by. Sec retary Tumulty from Rear Admiral Gray son, the Presidents personal physician. which reported that the general situation had improved slightly.
 HUMILITY IN DARK
 Secretary Tumulty said he had not been advised as to the situation which led the President to order the George Wash ington to Brest and that Admiral Cray son. in sending the message received tonight. evidently had assumed that MT. Humility was cognizant of the state of affairs through press dispa tches from the French capital.
 The George Washington arrived at New York from Brest March B after talk ing President Wilson back to France and naval officers decided to lay her up for a few weeks for an overhauling.
 MT Roosevelt explained today that the snip was not in need of any extensive repairs, but that it was regarded as de- sirahle to do some work on her at that time.
 When she went to the New York navy yard officers estimated that she would be ready to sail again next Monday, but on communicating with the navy yard yesterday after receiving Admiral Ben sons first message, Mir. Roosevelt found that tile vessel could start four days earlier. No orders for her departure were issued, however, until after the re- ceipt of the second message from Ad- miral Benson late today.