The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-01
TROOPS In EUROPE
IN SIX WEEKS
fContinued from Page ~

get certain militia regiments ready 10
start for the front very shortly.
New York national guard units are
not considered an impossibillty as me
first to GO Governor Whit.aan was
summoned to Washington for con-
ference with the administration on
unstated subjects today.
The question Of troops, 1t Is Dc
lieved. and possibly the Irish cues
ton were discussed by British for-
eign Secretary Balfour and President
Wilson at two lengthy confsrshces:
plans were completed nday lot
the French mission to leave Taursoay
for a tour of American cities, includ-
Ing Chicago, Kansas City, 81 LOUIS,
Springfield. ILL.,. Philadeipnia; N9W
YORK Roston. to be visited in the
order named.
The mission will return to Wash
inpton and continue its labots.
The Cuban war commission Will Ee
received today by Secretary Lansing
and probably by President Wilson.
Minister Cespedes will present them.
Conferences with Secretaries BAKER
and Daniels will follow.
Conscript Bill UP.
IBy Robert ]. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 1.--Congress
prepared today to celebrate conclGo-
ion OF the first month Of the war by
furnishing an army and the money to
supply it.
The conscr1pt army bill was ready
for reintroduction at IL o'clock THIS
forenoon. Despite delaying factors
which threatened in the form OF
amendments OF LaFblette, Gronna
and McCumber, democratic leaders
were confident the bill would reach
vote during the calendar day.
At the same time, Chairman Fitz-
gerald Of the house appropriation
committee was ready to ask immed-
late action today on the war budget
bill. calling for sums of s2,699,4S5,Ael
to finance the army and navy.
The house ways and means COM
mittee was also ready to report the
revenue measure designed to raise
not less than $1,5O0.000,0Oo by direct
taxes during the coming year.
"A bitter fight on the measure Is
certain.
While hope is held that the army
bill will go from the senate into con-
ference some time tonight, demo
cratic leaders say everything depend
ed on those waiting to offer amend
ments. IaFollette has one an hour
long which he may discuss even more.
MOCumber says he will offer again
his anti-submarine amendment which
asks for a representative from prac-
tically all the government depart
ments to constitute board that Will
try out inventions designed to fight
u boats. Gronna may offer his pro.
hibition amendment providing no
grain, fruit or vegetables shall be
used In manufacture of alcohol dur.
ing the war.
Submarine Menace.
IBy George Martin. United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The Ger
man submarine menace Overshadowed
even the question Of sending Ameri-
can soldiers to the front at the war
conference of the allies here today.
The British expert, Lord Eustace Per
cy, informed the American govern
ment that the shipping problem takes
precedence over every other war prob
lem at the moment.
1.-THE situation is very serious" he
said.
Standardization Of ship building in
England, America. Canada and japan
Is the biggest Immediate detail for
the conferees to dispose.
Englands standardization plans, 1t
was made known. were placed at the
disposal OF all the allies at the war
parley.
Germany is sinking ships faster
than the allies are building them"
said Lord Percy. 81 cannot give you
the figures, but they are appalling"
The British have impressed on the
American government that 1t will re-
quire the combined maximum ship
building facilities Of the allies,
speeded up to top notch to supply bot
toms, absolutely essential to the prose
cution Of the war.
You may get something OF the
significance of the situation said
Lord Percy, when tell you that for
ty British merchant ships were sunk
by submarines the third week in
April"
The Englishmen have told America
that "the balancing factor in the
situation, if we are to go on feeding
our allies, is the tonnage the United
States can supply"
The United States has submitted
an estimate of the tonnage 1t can
build and Canada has informed the
allies that she is preparing to build
small boats. Japan is also building
merchant ships.
'But despite all we can do" said
Lord Percy, 1.-THE submarine war Is
going to show tremendous net loss
in the worlds tonnage at the end Of
the conflict.
$50 far as England herself is con-
cerned, she could get along very we'll.
She could feed and equip herself from
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