the ship loaded general cargo and sailed from baltimore 26 january 1919 for gibraltar, with a refueling stop at the azores. at gibraltar "fort wayne" received orders to deliver a full load of cargo for the italian government at la spezzia, italy, where she arrived in mid-february. because of a shortage of cargo handling workers she was delayed there for almost a month and finally sailed for norfolk, virginia, arriving there on 20 april.