The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-12-04
Oscar Il Carries 14O Guests of
Automobile Manufacturer
TO MAKE PLANS DURING VOYAGE
Head of Expedition Prepared tc
Spend Hundreds Of Thousands
To End War.

| NV 10TH, Dec. H. ne oCdiiul'
nayfan-American line steamer Oscar
| II rs due to sail from its pier in Ho-
boken, n. j., at O'Clock niis after
| noon carrying l40 persons, who, as
| guests of Henry Ford. the Detroit
manufacturer. are going to Europe in
an effort TO induce neutral nations to
take steps toward stopping the war
Mr.. Ford's guests include G3 persons
directly interested in the peace move
ment, 81 reporters for newspapers
and magazines, three motion picture
men and 20 employees on Mr. 'Ford's
personal staff.
The party designated by Mr.. Ford
as the peace expedition is due TO
reach Christiania. Norway, it's first
stop, about the ~ : The only other
stopping places already decided upon
are Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen,
Denmark. and The Hague. Holland.
1t is probable, Mr.. Ford said, that the
party will visit other European capi-
tGis, as the progress Of the peace
plans seems to require.
After consulting with William j.
Bryan! former secretary of state, who
arrived from Miami. Fla. yesterday
to talk about the trip, Mr. Ford an
nounced last night that everything
was in readiness for today's depar
ture. that almost all passports had
been obtained from the state depart
men and that there was not the slight
est doubt that the Oscar II would
leave on time
Mr. Bryan issued statement re-
peating his former assertion that he
approved OF MIR. Fords plans and
that he would later join the party at
The Hague.
When you arrive in Europe what
will be your first step TO carry out
your plans to cooperate with neutral
nations toward stopping the Euro
pean war?" Mr.. Ford was asked.
That is a point we will consider on
the way across the ocean, he re-
piled. I'VE have not decided upon
any definite steps yet All we know
is that the fighting nations are sick
Of war; that they want to stop and
that they are waiting only for some
disinterested party to step in and OF,
fer mediation Some people in this
world have seen fit to be skeptical
about the success OF our plan; but
when we return ! think they will
change their views. Any action taxi
en- toward peace is worthy of support
il the action is based upon good judg-
ment and conviction.
AS an evidence of his intention TO
devote time and money to his expedi-
ton, Mr.. Ford announced that he had
made a new will for the distribution
of his fortune in case of his death
abroad and had arranged to have his
business affairs handled independent
ly of himself. IL am prepared to
meet anything, said Mr. Ford. IF
we fail this time we will try some
other plan for ending the war. I'm
not going to stop until the war is
stopped. I'm going to keep on trying
until peace has come again. What
shall do next if this mission fails
do not know. as ! yet haven't any
idea. But shall do something. | am
determined in that
Il have always been opposed to
war and opposed to preparation for
war, | really don't know just where
the plan for the peace mission came
from. The project of chartering
ship and holding a conference on the
other side seemed to me best fitted
to meet the situation. II simply ap-
| pealed to me as the most suitable
| action now, so | started carrying 1t
out, II we fail in this, we shall
start over again from the very begin
ming; that is all. The mission in
| reality is to arouse public sentiment
against the horrors of war and in fay-
| or of peace 1t sets people to think
| ing and wondering about the war"
I