The Washington times., 1917-05-02
GUARDSMEN LIKELY
TOBE FIRST In FRANCE
Expected They Will Go After Few
Weeks Training.
fcnntinued from First Page.)

asphyxiating gas, and so on.
All details concerning the organiza-
tion of the expeditionary forces were
discussed, it is understood, at
lengthy conference today between
Secretary of War Baker and Lieut..
Gen. C. T. NJ Bridges, the military
expert with the British commission.
Matters concerning the distribution
of the troops after their arrival, 1t
Is stated, will be disposed of between
the, American officials and General
Joffre.
Discuss Work Of Navy.
Participation of the American navy
in the war against Germany was the
outstanding subject of consideration
at the war council between represen-
tatives of the United States Govern
ment and envoys from our allies TO-
DAY.
Admiral Chocheprat. of the French
navy, and Admiral de Chair, OF the
British navy, were early callers at
the Navy Department, where they
conferred with Secretary OF the Navy
Daniels, Rear Admiral Benson. chief
of naval operations, and other officers.
Admiral de Chair appeared before
the naval advisory board, and was
Questioned for several hours along
technical lines While the nature of
the conference at the Navy Depart
ment must remain secret, it is under
stood the questions of the United
States utilizing the port of Brest,
France, as a naval base and co-opera
ting with the British and French
navies in combating the submarine
menace, as well as properly and ade-
Qustely conveying ships carrying
troops and war supplies were dis
cussed in all of their various phases.
Admiral Chocheprat today stated he
had been tremendously impressed
with the personnel and equipment of
the American navy, and had in
formed Navy Department officials
that it could be of inestimable value
In the war.
Q. s. Fleet Follows EngIand'E.
"The United States is in possession
Of the most powerful fleet in, the
world, next to the British, and this is
bound to weigh heavily in fastening
the day when final victory will be
wrung from the foe" said Admiral
Chocheprat.
''I am sure that the American navy
is ready to support in the most advan-
tageous fashion the cause OF the allies
AO" SAdpAhb q NOuAG ~" al NANAOA ,
You must not expect me to discuss
in detail our general war plans, es-
peciaIly as regards our campaign
against the enemy submarines. l need
only say that that is a question claim
ing priority above all others.
II have every reason to hope that
we shall succeed in establishing the
closest possible cooperation between
the American and allied navies for
the assurance OF the freedom Of the
seas, the protection of trade and the
triumph of our rights"
While Admirals Cocheprat and de
Chair were at the Navy Department,
Marshal Joffre and Gen. C. T. n.
Bridges, of the British army, were in
conference with Secretary of War
Baker regarding the expeditions dis
patching of American soldiers to Eu-
rope. Marshal Joffre was consulted
regarding the administrative and or
ganization ends Of the army. while
General Bridges was questioned re
garding the raising and equipping OF
q new army and technical phases Of
land warfare.
Pressed Hard For Information.
It was stated today that the Of
ficials of the American Government
had pressed the ENJOYS so closely for
Information on such a wide variety of
subjects vital to the United States
at this time that both Foreign Sec
retary Balfour and Minister Viviani
have been compelled to cable to their
governments for more data.
Mr.. Balfour conferred with other
members of the British mission at the
Long mansion this afternoon, and also
received a number of Congressman
and Senators. who questioned him re-
garding the details of legislation now
under consideration by Congress.
Among his visitors today were thir-
~ prominent men from Pittsburgh,
who invited the British mission to the
Smoky City. Mr.. Balfour could give
the delegation no definite assurances
that he and his associates would visit
Pittsburgh.
Godfrey Butler, spokesman for the
British mission, announced today that
the work of the ENJOYS had become
so heavy that they had established an
office opposite the British embassy.
British and French at Lunch.
Following the photographing of the
British mission and a brief confer
ence between Mr.. Balfour and Secre-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo, the
British mission entertained the French
mission at lunch at the British en-
bassy.
At o'clock tonight NJ. Viviani and
Marquis de Chambrun will be enter
tained at dinner by Carl Vrooman, as
sistant secretary Of the Department
of Agriculture. The members of the
French and British missions will be
included in the sixty guests Henry
White will entertain at dinner at his
home tonight. Later in the even
ing the French mission will De
guests at a reception at the home OF
Mrs. William Corcoran Eustis.
The French mission will leave
Washington for Chicago tomorrow. 1t
is understood both missions will leave
Washington TO return to Europe
within the next ten days.
Conferences were held today be
tween Major General Scott, chief Il
stan; Rear Admiral Benson. chief OF
naval operations, and the Cuban Mil
itary Commission, in Washington 20
confer as to the part the island re
public will play in the war against
Germany
The purpose OF. the Cuban mission
Is to make arrangements with the
United States naval authorities TO pUr-
chase complete new ordnance equip
ment for the Cuban navy. At the pres