Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-19
WEST COASTS OWN
powerful ARMADA
JSTARTS FROM EAST
New U. S. Naval History Will
liBe Made by Mighty Fleet
4 Now Headed for Canal.
GREATEST SEA FIGHTING
! MACHINES AMONG SHIPS

War Vessels Which Left Hampton
Roads to Garry Message of
Americas Strength.
By the Associated Press.
OLD POINT. Va, July 19.-The van
guard of the Pacific fleet sailed from
its anchorage here at $50 o'clock this
morning, bound for the western coast
iFia the Panama canal. No unusual
ceremonies marked the departure of
s3he six superdreadnaughts and thirty
l6estroyers and tenders which are
SeadIng the way for the 200 naval
ieraft now assigned to Pacific waters.
I The beginning of the voyage marks
,Rn epoch in American naval history.
For the first time the fleet has been
tdivided. An exact half of it's power
has been assigned to guard the west
'ern seaboard
i West to Realize Nays Power.
For the first time. also. the strategic
kalue of the canal is to be fully tested
when Admiral Hugh Rodman. COM
mander of the Pacific fleet, moves his
armada through to Pacific waters: and
for the first time Americans of the
far west are to see with their own
eyes the full pomp and power of the
Navy that has been their pride Tor
years.
Through the night the great feet
lay blinking and winking it's count
less messages across the silent road
stead. The big. dim battle craft and
the slim destroyers, vague shapes
s~ith brilliant eyes of light under
CIoud-streaked sky. seemed to be
talking among themselves in the
dark. Perhaps they talked of the
grim days in the North sea. in which
they shared so recently: of subma-
rines. depth bombs. mines and all the
dread business of modern war. Per-
haps old heroic deeds occupied them
deeds of their own progenitors. the
Monitor and Merrimac. whose guns
Yet echo in history over the waters
Of Hampton roads. where the fleet
code silently to it's cables.
Daybreak brought colorful sun
fise poking long crimson fingers of
light past the capes to wake the ships
for the eventful hour. In from the
A tiantic also came the last tide to
serve them. swinging them bow on
for the start.
+ Waits for No Stragglers.
Admiral Rodman had set $40 for
Nnc sailing HOuT- ne wOulQ Tolerate
no delay. wait for no stragglers, his
captains were told with characteristic
force. The first sunbeams saw barges,
gigs and motor sailors hurrying on
1ast-minute errands- The roadstead
was busy with them. Below decks
etokers toiled and black smoke clouds
Eose over the fleet.
Gradually the stir died away about
the fleet. Boat after boat was hoisted
dripping to its chocks on deck. MINI
BILE. barefooted jackies fastened to
their tasks of flashing and making ali
ship-shape aboard for the voyage The
IA hite jackets of officers and men stood
out plainly against the grim gray war
{paint
Ashore little groups of wet-eyed
crowded dockhead and verandas to
wave godspeed. The ancient walls or
FORTRESS Monroe gazed calmly out on
.Still another pageant.
j Bugles Call to "Colors."
At o'clock the bugles called softly
from the feet. The hurrying white fig
ures on each wide deck were suddenly
still. 1t was ''colors,' and as the
strains of the distant bands rose and
FELL on the breeze, afloat and ashore,
men in the white of the Navy or IN
Army khaki stood rigidly at attention
facing the bright flags flung from every
STAFF tn the gray fleet.
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.
eemaphores on high bridge ends. helped
tackles with waving arms send jerky
greetings to comrades on other ships
The binding blue flicker of the daylight
Sblinkers joined in here and there The
men Of the fleet were talking now and
messages criss-crossed each other all up
and down the long line under the shift
Eng smoke pail.
Promptly at $50 a destroyer stole
slowly out from its place in line he
hind the battleships A double string
of signal flags on the New Mexico,
where Admiral Rodman's four-starred
ffag tapped lazily above the hooded
Top of the tall cage mast, showed that
the order had Teen given to begin the
voyage. The destroyer swung toward
She sea tripping smooth down the
channel. Another followed. and then
another. spaced at perfect intervals
They formed lane toward the sea.
drawn up in two columns.
Flagship Swings Into Position.
First % leave her anchorage the
flagship New Mexico circled slowly
and swung into the water lane be-
sween the destroyers. or her heels
came the Mississippi, looking like a
prov. In order. the Wyoming. Arkan-
sas. New York and Texas stea med
} down the moving lane. the tenders
CLOSED in behind and the whole fleet
{ moved off across the bay toward
. Farewell bouy, beyond the capes at
sea. where a southerly course will
be set for Panama.
Once at sea, the destroyers will
form a triangle about battleship divi-
eions. which will steam in double
volumes inside this protection. at a
gtwelve-knot gait. At sea, also some
where along the line. the great dread
s0aughts Idaho and Arizona will ioin.
; as will the scout cruiser birmingham
tiagship of the active Pacific DESTROYER
force. 1t had been expected these
ships could have been assembled here
Today for the fleets departure but
crowded yards and lack of personnel
combined to keep them out of the
long line now pushing southwark
Formidable as the fleet looked
ssteaming out on the voyage that will
end for some of the ships only after
b call at Honolulu in Pacific. /,
represented only part of Admiral
Rodman's force. The destroyers h.
hook out with him were but a Quarter
pf those he commanded. In reserve
ut Atlantic yards the others await
crews to man them for call to arms
10 send them scurrying through the
canal TO join the flag.
Puget Sound Fleets Main Base.
The main base of the Pacific feet
Nill be in Puget sound. Washington
That is the destination of a ma jority
of the craft that sailed today and
Rlso of ships of the supply and fuel
grain. of the submarines. repair and
antinued on Second Page.l