New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
admiral Hugh Rodman OH
New Mexico Leads Van
guard OF Armada From
Hampton Roads Mooring
Commands 200 Craft
Puget Sound Will Be Main
Base, With Some Ships OF,
Duty at the Hawaiians

OLD POINT COMFORT, Va, July 10.
!. The vanguard of the Pacific fleet
sailed from its anchorage here at $50
1 oclock this morning, bound for the
Western coast via the Panama Canal
No unusual ceremonies marked the de-
narture of the six superdreadnought
and thirty destroyers and tenders,
which are leading the way for the
200 naval craft now assigned to Pacific
waters.
The beginning Of the voyage marks
an epoch in American naval history
For the first time the fleet has been
divided with exactly half of its power
assigned to guard the Western sea-
board. For the first time also the
strategic value Of the canal is to be
fully tested when Admiral Hugh Rod
man moves his armada through 10
Pacific waters. And for the first Tins
Americans OF the Far West are to see
power OF the navy that has been their
pride for years.
Throughout the night the great
feet lay blinking and winking it's
countless messages across the silent
roadstead.
Start Planned at $3.50
|" Admiral Rodman had set $3.50 for
Weighing anchors. He would tolerate
his captains were told with characteris-
tic force. Daylight saw barges, gigs
and motor sailors hurrying on last
minute errands. The roadstead was
busy with them. Below decks stokers
.toled and black smoke clouds rose over
the fleet.
Gradually the stir died away. Boat
after boat was hoisted dripping to its
chocks on deck Nmble, bare footed
jackies fastened to their tasks Of
isshing and making all shipshape
aboard for the voyage.
Ashore little groups Ct wet-eyed
women, sailors wives or sweethearts,
crowded dockhead and verandas to
wave godspeed.
At s o'clock the bugles called softly
from the fleet. The hurrying white
figures on each wide deck were sudden
strains of the distant bands rose and
fell on the breeze, atioat and ashore,
men in the white of the navy or in
army Khaki stood rigidiy It attention,
facing the bright flags flung from
every staff in the gray fleet.
All a-Bustle for Getaway
! In a moment all was hurry again
! The sun picked out the brass work of
the, ships to set it glowing. 1t caught,
and colored strings of flags from signal
arms showing clear the gesturing boards
Of semaphores on high bridge ends,
helped iackies with waving arms send
jerky greetings TO comrades on other
ships. The binding blue flicker of the
daylight "binkers" joined in here and
there. The men of the feet were talk
ing now, and messages crisis crossnC
each other up and down the long
lines under the shifting smoke pail.
Promptly at $3.50 destroyer stole
slowly out from its place in line be
hind the battleships. A double string
Of signal flags on the New Mexico
where Admiral Rodman's four-starret
flag tapped lazily atop the tall cage
mast, showed that the order had beer
stroyeg swung toward the sea, tripping
smoothly down the channel. Another
followed, and then another, spaced at
perfect intervals. They formed lane
toward the sea, drawn up in two col
umns
New Mexico Leads Column
First to leave her anchorage, the flag
ship New Mexico circled slowly anc
swung into the water lane between thc
destroyers
On her heels came the Mississippi
looking like sister ship, with lont
oyerhanging prov. In order, the Wy
oming, Arkansas, New York and Texas
steamed down the moving lane. tht
tenders closed in behind and the whole
feet moved off across the bay TO the
open.
Once at sea, the destroyers will form
triangle about the battleship divjs
ions which VIII steam in double col
unnns inside this protection at 10
Knot gait At sea arso. somewhere
along the line, the great dreadnought:
Idaho and Arizona VII join, as vii
the scout cruiser Birmingham, flagship
Of the active Pacific destroyer force.
Form dable as the fleet looked steam
Ing out on the voyage that will en'
for some of the ships only after
call at Honolulu, in mid-Pacifc, it rep
resented only part of Admiral Rod
mans forces. The destroyers he too
out with him were but a quarter o
those he commands. In reserve at Al
hntic yards the others await crews t
man them.
Main Base Puget Sound
The main base of the Pacific fee
will be in Puget Sound, Washington
That is the destination of a majorit
Of the craft that sailed to-day Othe
clements Of the feet are moving ind
vidually, day by day, toward their ne
posts. Some will join the flagship e
route. After the main fleet has passe
through the canal there will be
steady procession through the grea
waterway until all have assembled i
the Pacific.
Il viii take two days or perhap
hree 70 clear the last OF his armad
u the western side before it will hea
HORN.
The sailing % the great feet to-da
mars q complete change in naval pol