The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-04-11
Orders the George Washington
Started for France and 1t
Will Leave Today.
TIRED OF PEACE DELAYS
IntimatiOn at Least of Serious
Hitch Unless Peace Confer
ence Gets Down to Business
and Comes to Agreement.

washington, April 1O.-Preident
Wilson has ordered the transport
George Washington to be started for
France at the earliest time possible.
The instructions were received at
the navy department through Ad-
miral Benson, chief of naval opera
tions, at Paris. Acting Secretary
Roosevelt announced that the George
Washington would leave lat the
earliest opportunity, probably Fri
day afternoon, April IL"
AS Admiral Benson had sent a
cablegram inquiring as to when the
George Washington could sail, Off
cials regarded the message as sig
nificant. but in the absence OF more
specific information, they declined
to comment.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt's an
nouncement follows:
acting Secretary OF the Navy
Roosevelt received cablegram
from Admiral Benson at Paris re-
Questing that the sailing of the y.
s. George Washington will, there
fore, leave New York at the earliest
opportunity. probably Friday after
noon, April H."
Admiral Benson's message gave
no reason for the Presidents order
and the White House professed to
have no information on the subject.
but interpreting it in the light of
press dispatches from Paris telling
OF the Presidents determination
that delays at the peace conference
must end, most officials regarded 1t
as significant. Importance was also
given by the fact that this was the
second message from the admiral
regarding the ships departure, hav-
ing inquired as to the time the ves-
sci could get under way.
BY fast steaming the George
WASHINGTON should reach Brest by
April II. She would be held there
subject to the Presidents orders, it
was said. and thus would be imme-
diately available in the event Mr..
Wilson should decide to cut short his
stay at Paris because OF delays in
agreeing on the terms OF peace. In
some quarters II was explained that
without his ship at French port
the President might find himself in
a somewhat embarrassing position
should he decide to leave the
French capital before the treaty had
been agreed upon.
Late press dispatches from Paris
indicated that more hopeful view
;s to the progress Of the peace nego-
tiations was entertained than had
been for several days and this view
was reflected in a cablegram receiv-
ed by Secretary Tumulty from Rear
Admiral Grayson. the Presidents
personal physician, who reported
that the general situation had i'm
proved slightly.
Secretary Tumulty said he had not
been advised as to the situation
which had led the President to or
der the George Washington to Brest
and that Admiral Grayson. in send
ing the message. evidently had as
sumed that Mr. Tumulty was cog
infant OF the state Of affairs through
press dispatches from the French
capital.
The George Washington arrived
at New York from Brest March 28
after taking President Wilson back
10 France and naval officials de-
cided to lay her up for a few weeks
m nvarhaulinp
When she went to the New York
navy yard officers estimated that she
would be ready TO sail again mex
Monday, but on communicating
with the navy yard after receiving
Admiral Benson's first message
Mr.. Roosevelt found that the vessel
could start four days earlier. No
orders for her departure were Is
sued, however. until after the re
ceipt OF the second message from
Admiral Benson.