The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-04-09
PRES. WILSON
ORDERS ship TO
BREST AT once
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
Announces George Washing
tom Win Sail Friday
ORDER CONSIDERED
AS SIGNIFICANT
The President Is Determined
That Delays at Peace Com
ference Must End at Once

washington. April S.-President VIII
son ha1 ordered the transport George
washington started for france the
earliest time possible. instructions
were received At the navy department
late todAy through Admiral Benson.
chief Of naval operations in Paris.
A Admiral Benson inquired yes
terday when the vessel could sail. Of
filcia1s regarded the message today as
sienificant but in the absence of more
specific information declined to conn
ment.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt an~
would leave New York probably Fri-
day.
In announcing today that the pres
tdential transport George Washington
would sail from New York for Brest
Friday instead of next Monday, the
date originally fixed for her depart
ure, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt dis
closed that the change had been made
a. the result Of q cablegram from Ad-
miral Benson at Paris yesterday ir-
quiring when the ship could sail.
Yesterday when word came from
Paris that the president had deter
mined there must be . mend to delays
at the conference and had ordered the
transport to France, navy department.
officials said no new orders had been
Issued ahd that the ship was prepar-:
ing to sail according to schedule on
Monday. April II. The Benson mes
sage changed this situation very quick
- Communication with the New
York navy gard where fhp & GeorGe:
4 nn1S1e1
81 ~ 5&por8 that -
nna0s rea4y for sea BY Iand -
was nr1ofod out then. s.
3f1a Heoses1lt said fo<layy AdmireA
: S17 - & anage dfd not 80 into the
pdSj = of the inquiry. but simply
asked about the day of departnre. He.
explained the ship would have sailed
March 26, but it was decided to make
some repairs and the tentative sailing
date then was fixed for next Monday.
The George Washington should
reach Brest by April 20. Whether she
will make a return trip with soldiers
before the pr6eident returns home will
be determined upon her arrival over
seas Mr.. Roosevelt said II this voy-
age were made it would be May - or
90 before the vessel could get back to
Brest.
u
information had been received at the
White House or in official quarters
about the situation which dispatches
from France indicate hAs arisen here.
Officials confidently declare their IS
lief that the presidenf has no tdea5O1
leaving Paris prematurely. and that
the Inquiry about the transport mere
ly was i precaution to insure the
presence Of the ship when the presi-
dent il ready to return home.
It was said by American members
OF tho conference the general situa-
tion was Improved somewhat today
because of the agreement reached by
thx commission on reparations on the
main features Of the reparations ques-
ton. leaving only . few unessentiai
details for adjunstment.
Generally moro hopeful tone pre-
vailed In conference circles as the day
wore on.
Members OF the American delega-
ton declined to Give an explanation
Of the many fumors In circulation that
the conferences would complete tts
work shortly One member when AK
ed for definite information on the SIT
uation said:
.sYou know the George washington
has been ordered TO Brest. That Is
q good subject for speculation.