The Washington herald., 1917-04-13
US. WILL CLEAR
STEAMER LANES
OF sub MENACE
Course Outlined at Confer
ences Here with British
and French Admirals.
COOPERATION DISCUSSED
American Vessels to Relieve Entente
Naval Ships of Patrol Duty
Along Atlantic.

Clear the steamer lanes Of the Ger
man submarine menace" was the course
determined upon yesterday. after the nrst
Joint War Council since the United States
entered the war.
A British and French admiral came
to Washington. and with the heads OF
the American Navy. they planned the
Joint operations by means of which the
Meet of the United States viii aid the
entente naNies against the common en-
envy.
Details OF the naval operations shrood-
ed behind a deep veil Of secrecy, VII
be worked out at conferences which viii
continue for several days.
Americas part in the naval end of
the war. II was announced at the Navy
Department, Will be TO aid in keeping
the ocean highways as clear az poeSfhle
for the continuous fow OF m,initionS
food, and other supplies TO the nehttnr
forces In Europe
Bring star omcer
The British and French adniraIs
Drought their stan officers 10 Washtnr-
ton with them, and they conferred win
secretary OF the Navy Daniels, Admiral
Benson, chief Of operations, and Coun-
selor Polk, Of the State Department
They spent the day going over Amsr1-
can naval plans and they reviewed the
coast patrol arrangements with Capt. II.
wilson in charge Of the mosquito
Meet OF submarine chasers that are
guarding the harbOrs and coast me
along the Atlantic.
Last night the Waiting admfrals had
worked out q complete plan Of naval CO.
operation, which viii include the reltaf
by American ships Of entente naval ehins
now on patrol duty on this side OF tie
he
eventually take over the entire task OF
patrolling the western Atlantic from
Halifax TO South America
"BarreI-Chested Sea DoE.S
The French naval offcer, Rear Admiral
Grasset, was accompanied by his chief
Of stan, De Vaisseau Maquet. and Far
Lieut.. Hennesy. Vice Admiral Brown
Ing, OF the British feet, had with hfrn
Capts. A Lowndes and E. @. Cheeseman,
and Lieut. Commander A r. J. South
ley.
All OF these officers conferred with tne
various heads OF the American navy.
going over in detail the needs Of the ma
val situation, and seeking the most ef-
fective means Of cooperation to take full
advantage Of the naval resources Of the
United States
Vice Admiral Browning, a typical Brit
ish sea dog, with barrel chest, and a
srlzzIy gray beard, was particularly ac-
tive throughout the day, stridinR from
one part Of the big State. War and Navy
Building to the other. from conferences
room to conference room, as though
walking his own quarter deck He en-
nhasized his conversations by swinEinR
left arm minus a hand The arm ter
minated in a big steel hook, after the
fashion of the old-time mariner, and 70
was always in use.
Expect Commission Soon.
The State Department announced YES
terdaY that the arrival OF the British Co.
operation Commission was expected soon
Foreign Minister Balfour will have with
him Gen. Bridges, representing the army,
Admiral de Chair, representing the navy.
and the governor OF the Bank Of Eng-
land The department was not advised as
to the personnel OF the French Commits
sion. but said that Minister OF Justice
Niviani probably would arrive about the
time that the British Representatives
reach Washington
The administration last night Was
reluctant to commit itself as to how far
the cooperation conferences will involve
the United States in the general Entente
Alliance
There was a distinct feeling. however,
that the United States. while pIedging IT.
self to prosecute the war with an its
powers, will not enter In any bind.nR
agreement as to what conditions must he
met before the war is ended