Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-06-20
New York.-When Admiral Henry T

New ork.---When Admiral Henry T.
Mayo, commander In chief Of the At
lantlc fleet, went to Europe, as he ola
several times during the course OF the
war, he was known to all on bohrd'
with the exception Of the commanding
officer of the ship, as Mr.. Wing When
Admiral Sims went over Immediately
following the declaration Of war In
April, 1917, he was booked as MT.
Richardson while Captain Babcock,
who was Admiral Sims aid, was Mr.,
Robertson.
II Is probable that no officer In any
of the allied navies played more I'M
portunt part in the direction Of the
naval part Of the war, after April
1917, than did Admiral Mayo, the com
mander of the Atlantic fleet. II Is also
certain that no prominent officer mp
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 ad'
mlrals war activities, told It for the
first time.
II guess It's all right" said this Of
flcer, NOW that the ships of the navy
are home and admirals' flags are wav-
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. II Is
all over now, official reports have been
made, the censor's tightening grip has
been looscned 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 r. 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 was in
1917 and was made under the most
secretive of movements. Again he
went over with his entire staff. and
returning on the Mauretania early last
December was taken off this ship on
tender in Ggayesend bay. hurried TO
his flagship, the L. 5. 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 fleet
home. Then he went to Cuba, and re-
turning visited New York for the usual
April recreation period of the fleet.
lnspects the Navies.
st was while on his second trip
abroad that Admiral Mayo made prob
ably the most extensive tour of in
spectlon made by any commanding Of
ficer during the war. With members
Of his staff he visited not only the
American and English navies, but also
every branch of the allied forces In
Europe. 1t was on this trip that he
was entertained by both the English
md Italian kings,
ut was this continued voyaging of
the admiral which caused some one to
remark ut the Army and Navy club In
Washington that of all the officers in
the navy, Admiral ,iayo was continual.
ly on the wing.
"'And most appropriately, replied a
civilian traveller on an ocean liner
some months past, for l once knew
him as "NIr. Wing
Which lets the secret out, for when
in 1917 Admiral Mayo and his staff
sailed most quietly and secretlvely on
the st. Louis he was known as Mr..
Wing. He wore the dress of civilian,
as did all Of the members of his staff.
Only the ships commanding officer