The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-24

The commission, which includes
Marshal Joffre and Former Premier
Niviani, arrived early this morning on
board a speedy steamship of the
French line which was conveyed
across the Atlantic. The vessels were
met off the coast by American tor
pedo boat destroyers and escorted to
a port.
The naval and military attaches or
the French embassy at Washington
and American naval and military Of
ficers together with a representative
of the state department Immediately
boarded the French vessels ana eX-
tended a welcome to American shores.
The Associated Press correspondent
who accompanied the party from
France sends the following dispatch
from the Port of Arrival
French CoIors Break Out.
As the ship bearing the French
commission came into port today
American warships broke out French
coIors from their mast heads and
American bands played the French
national anthem. American ana
French soldiers lined the rails on their
respective ships. No salutes were fired.
The special train bearing the commls-
sion slipped out of Paris in the early
morning, observed only by few secret
service agents and railway men. The
hour of leaving was known no
where in advance and when the train
stopped at cities along the way to the
port of departure, Marshal Joffre
walked up and down the station plat
form acknowledging pleasantly the
saIutations of the few persons who
happened to be in the stations. They
looked at the great commander with
a respect approaching veneratton. The
American flag was flying mere and
there alCng the route. not in recogni-
ton of the party going to America
but because every town and village
in France, both by government re-
quest and personal sentiment is show
ing the American colors.
The transfer from train to ship
was without event, as was the voyage
across the Atlantic.
Warships Convoy Steamer.
..Warships passed out ahead of the
French steamer into the danger zone,
which in this case is one of the haunt
ing places of German submarines.
'"The first night out the ship and
convoy made is knots an hour before
the wind"
Washington. April 24-The French
commission coming here for confer
ences with American and English gov
ernment officials has arrived safely.
The place of arrival is withheld.
The state department issued the fol-
lowing announcement today
THE state department is advised of
the safe arrival of the French mis-
sion"
The party is not yet in Washington
and all information as to their move
ments or time of arrival is kept secret
by the censorship.
Tabulate First Days Results.
Washington. April 24.-British For
sign Secretary Arthur ]. Balfour and
President Wilson, heads of the Anglo
American war conferences, planned to
spend today tabulating the results of
their first parley. Denying themselves
to all callers, they spent several hours
getting down to a working basis for
the world conference.
Money and food were the outstand-
ing points for immediate consideration.
These have in part been disposed of.
The British commission backed up the
American governments campaign for
food production in every word its
members uttered during the first day
Of informal discussion.
The details of Americas first war
loan to England-which will be some
mart of three billion dollar loan, bonds
for which are about to be offered to
the public, today were to be up for
final decision between Secretary of
the Treasury McAdoo and Lord Cum
life, governor of the Bank of Eng
land.
Shipping Next Up for Discussion.
Shippin. logically the next point to