New-York tribune., 1911-07-22
TAFT, ON BATTLEFIELD,
TELLS OF PEACE TREATIES
Arbitration Pact with Great
Britain and France May Be
Signed Within Ten Days.
HE EXPECTS THREE MORE
President Has Adventurous Jour
ney from Washington to Ma
nassas, Where Veterans
Cheer His Peace Plea.

Manassas, Va, July 21.-Mud bespat-
tered after strenuous trip from Wash
ington by automobile over flooded roads
and through swollen creeks. President
Taft to-day faced an audience made up
in part of veterans who wore the Blue
and the Gray, within few miles of the
scene of the battle of Bull Run, the first
great conflict of the Civil War, and was
cheered when he made a plea for inter-
national peace.
7 The President declared that a general
arbitration treaty with Great Britain and
with France probably would be signed
within the next ten days. He added that
he hoped within the next few days 70
announce that three other powers would
enter into similar agreements with the
United States. He did not name the
nations he had in mind, but it was gem
erallv believed that he referred TO Ger
many. Italy and The Netherlands. Japan
ultimately may come into the far-reach-
ing peace pact, but the negotiations with
that power as yet are said to be, merely
| tentative.
President Taft reached Manassas late
| this evening after tempestuous trip IL
was so strenuous that the Presidential
rarty abandoned their motor cars here
and returned to the capital by train.
Mr. Taft laughingly likened his troubles
| I'm getting to Bull Run to those that some
people fifty years ago had in getting
away.
81 brought some Senators and Repre-
sentatives down with me from Washing
ION" he said "and because of the ex-
ipencies OF the road and the storm and
strife of the elements, we came far more
slowly than some Senators and Repre-
sentatives who came down here half a
century ago went back
The Presidents trip from Washington
10 Manassas would have thrilled the
heart of a moving picture man. He left
trail of stranded automobiles In his
wake. made perilous voyages across
streams out OF their banks, stopped on
his way 10 rescue a party OF marooned
Senators. demanding votes for reciprocity
as a reward. ploughed his way through
transforms and mud, and finally reached
this historic little village at sundown.
The car containing the Secret Service
men. which started bravely beside the
President as he left the White House,
held To the race gamely until within a
few miles of the battlefield, and then
gave a despairing gasp and stopped in
the middle of what once was peaceful
brook. but which had become muddy
torrent to-day. This stream had daunted
the courage of the Presidents chauffeur,
who 10 To this time had successfully
navigated three other fords. So the
Secret Service car was sent ahead TO test
the depth Of the water, and died in the
attempt to make the crossing. BY a
detour the President managed to nego-
tiate the stream at more shallow point.
Jokes with Stranded Senators.
Several OF the rescued Senators slowed
away with the Secret Service men after
their automobile shipwreck at an earlier
ford. this time were left stranded with
the declaration by the President that
they were a lot Of stand patters"
one of the White House stenographers.
who had followed the President from
coast TO coast and from Puget Sound to
the Gulf Of Mexico, likewise was aban-
| doned i'm midstream and Mr.. Taft, for
| the first time since he became the chief
Continued on second page.