Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-11
NORTHCL|FFE TO ADVISE
j. S. AGAINST MISTAKES
Would Prevent Sending Great Army
to Franco Until There Are
Ships to Maintain 1t.
SHIPPING SITUATION GRAVE
Hoover Feels That 1t Is Vessels This
Country Can Build In Next Six or
Eight Months That May BE De-
Gliding Factor in War.


Gliding Factor in War.
WASHINGTON. June lO.--Lord North
cliffes arrival in this country as the
head OF a British mission In awaited
with great interest by official Wash
here tonight from man in close
touch with the European represents.
tires. VIII direct tho greater part OF
his influence toward forestalling rep
clifton By this country OF Great Brit
aims mistake At Gallipoli by sending
an army to France before this coun-
try has the ships necessary to main
tain II.
Premier Lloyo George. II is known.
has been in regular communica ton
with a special agent here for months.
This representative has special instruc-
tons from the British Premier TO learn
at first hand what America is doing,
what she is not doing and what she
ought TO do. lie is looking kecnly a,
the probability of her repeating the
mistakes SO costly to Great Britain.
The reports of the Premier's represen-
tative. particularly those that related
TO the delays in the shipbuilding pro-
gram and the food program, were OF
such nature that Lord Northclifre's
mission was decided upon hurriedly.
SHIPPING SITUATION
PERPLExING PROBLEM
The shipping situation. without any
doubt. is one of the greatest and most
perplexing problems before the coun-
try. No man having to do with the
governments conduct OF the ship prob
lem is more disturbed over It than
Herbert G. Hoover. The ability of tho
country to furnish ships vitality affects
the food administration. Mr.. Hoover
feels. according to confidential
source. that 1t is the ships that this
country can build in the next six or
eight months that will be the import
ant, possibly the deciding, factor in
the war. Great Britain has said time
and again that the greatest need was
for ships and still more ships. Next
years ships may come too late. and 1t
is known that Mr.. Hoover feels that
nothing will so quickly lead to disaster
as the widespread belief in this coun-
try that the submarine has been curb
ed or even checked. This fact was i'm
pressed upon Mr.. Hoover when he was
In London.
What was told to Mr.. Hoover then.
it is said by the same source. un-
doubtedly will be placed squarely be-.
fore this government by Lord North
clite when he comes here. All OF
the British officials and the members
of the mission here have from time
10 time expressed this great urgency
of the shipping question as probably
the most vital of all.
Another official OF the government,
whose views have coincided with those
OF the British, Is Theodore Brent, vice
chairman of the United States Ship
ping Commission, of which William
Denman is the head. Mr.. Brent, just
prior to the breaking between Mr.
Cocktails and Clark and Eustis, dis
cussed the sending of an army OF 50.-
900 workers from this country to re-
build the railroad behind the French
lines. He was asked If with ell the
ships this government is now building,
and all that will be available. this
country would be able to keen the
army OF workers behind the French
lines. He replied: NO. not with the
ships that we now know will be avail
able when taken into consideration
with the other demands that will be
made upon us for tonnage.
CAN'T SEND SUPPLIES
FOR MILLION MEN
II don't know what are the inten-
tons OF the War Department about
sending troops to France or elsewhere
but within a year with the present
outlook for ships, we could not sup
ply food and other necessities to a
million men. 1t is a reasonable de-
duction that the size of any military
expedition must DO determined upon
by the ability Of the nation to follow
them with ships.
Italy. we are told, needs 100000 tons
OF coal month to maintain her as an
effective fighting force. We have to
supply ships to carry It. England will
supply coal to France. How we are
going to take care OF our part of the
contract I don't know at this mo.
men:.
There are 100000 tons Of material
for the Russian government lying on
the docks ut New York. That ma
terial, largely rolling stock and eauip.
ment for the trans Siberian railroad.
| has got 10 be delivered at Vladivostok,
| in addition to moving 100000 moro
| tons needed by Russia for her army.
| We have only five months to deliver
this material. since Archangel is only
open for that period. Here again tho
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