NEW YORK -- With President and Mrs. Wilson standing on the bridge, the steamer George Washington, carrying the President to the Peace Conference moved away from her dock at 10.22 a.m. to-day.
As the transport backed out into the stream, two airplanes circled overhead. Three destroyers in the river, took up their stations beside the George Washington.
The crowd on the Hoboken side of the Hudson River was unable to see the ship moving out, but they cheered as the tooting of whistles told them the President was starting his voyage to France. There were many spectators, cheering and waving handkerchiefs, along the New York side of the river, on the piers.
At 10.30 the big steamer swung around and started down the river, the tugs still around her.
As she moved out, the Presidential salute of 21 guns was fired by the ship's own batteries.
As the ship proceeded toward the bay and the President remained on the bridges, waving his hat and waving a handkerchief in response to the increasing uproar of farewell. The noise of whistles and sirens became deafening. The rigging of the ships docked along the river was crowded with cheering people. Vessels passing the George Washington blew their whistles like mad; their rails lined with men and women giving the President a rousing send off.
The two airplanes joined int he demonstration, looping the loop and cutting all kinds of capers directly over the President's ship.
The trip down the river was made through a gauntlet of action. Persons away from the water front could follow the progress of the steamer by the din, as it moved on into the bay.
A big crowd was assembled at the Battery, where thousands from the office buildings of lower Manhattan gathered to wave good-bye and add their voice to the clamor.
As the George Washington sailed majestically into the lower bay, her gray sides almost merging into the mist, the convoy fleet swung into the line off Staten Island. The dreadnaught Pennsylvania, which is to lead the voyage across the Atlantic, flying Admiral Mayo's pennant, moved up toward the Marrows. The President's flag was flown by the George Washington.
Secretary Tumulty went down the bay with the President, being scheduled to return on the tugboat Thomas Moran.
The George Washington passed through the Narrows and entered the lower bay at 11.10 a.m. The dreadnaught Pennsylvania and several destroyers preceded the President's ship through the Narrows. Another destroyer sailed just ahead of the George Washington. Destroyers flanked the big liner on both sides, and two more were brought up in the rear.
