The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-05-18
plan FOR FIRST
YEAR OF WAR
United States and Entente Allies
Reach Complete Agreement
for Cooperation.
NAVAL and FINANCIAL AID
All Available American Craft to Be
Used in Fight Against Submarines
Million Men to Be Trained O..
for Army Service.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNlNa.

for Army Service.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
washington Correspondent of the Chi
cago Trlbune.)
Washington.-The United States
and the entente allies have reached a
complete agreement on the plan Of CO.
operation that will be followed during
the first year Of the joint war on Ger.
many.
A. commission Of American naval Of
feers has gone to London to attend a
SEXES of war conferences at which the
participation of the American navy in
the warfare on submarines and in the
larger operations expected later will
be mapped out.
Arthur J. Balfour, secretary for for
eign affairs Of the British empire, and
a distinguished body Of military and
naval experts have come to Washing
ton to represent the British govern.
ment.
The understanding reached with the
allies provides for American assistance
in the war during the first year to this
extent:
The employment Of all available
American naval craft up to and includ-
ing the class. of destroyers to fight SUBJ
marines in European waters and to
guard the sea lanes for the protection
Of shipping.
The assignment Of American cruis-
ers to patrol allied possessions from
Nova Scotia to Panama and to scout
for and round up German raiders in
the Atlantic. &g.,s
The strengthening Of the American
battleship feet, no immediate s for
which is contemplated.
Raise Army Of Million.
The raising and training of an army
Of 100000 men, a part or all Of which
will be needed in Europe If the war
lasts more than a year longer.
The reduction Of the rate Of ex-
change by the extension Of liberal cred
its to the allies, the loan Of $3,OOO,OOO,
600 proposed by the administration be-
ing the first step to accomplish this
purpose. j..
The employment Of the German and
Austrian merchantmen for the trans
portation- of supplies to the allies.
The development of a vast shipbuild.
Ing industry in the United States to
furnish bottoms badly needed as the
result of submarine destruction of ton.
mage.
The supply of a vast quantity OF
steel to England and France.
The supply Of railroad rolling stock
and rails to Russia and American en-.
gineers to organize railroad Transports
ton in Russia.
The administration is now engaged
in the work of getting all of these
activities under way. The shipping
board has been called upon to organ
lie the s%hipbuilding industry of the
country on a gigantic scale. Hundreds
of new yards are to be established
Old and new yards on the great lakes
are to be pressed into service. Ne
gotiations already are in progress with
great lakes shipping lines for the trans
fer of some Of their boats to the ocear
trade.
In addition the administration will
press the passage Of a bill granting
authority to commanders all foreign
bottoms building in the United States
This legislation will enable the allies
to press into service neutral ships now
on American ways,
Emergency Aid to Russia.
The assistance which the United
States is to render Russia is Of al
emergency character. The Russian rail
road system is disorganized. There
is a shortage Of cars and rails fol
new roads. At Archangel there arr
400 square miles. of munitions which
the Russians have been unable to NOV
on the single line Of railroad. TIL
United States has been informed b.
the allies that no greater service coul(
be rendered the entente than the or
aganization Of efficiency in Russian
transportation. A commission Of Amer
lean railway officials and engineer
will be sent to Russia for this pur
pose. .. ,.aa .. .r.
Another phase Of cooperation witt
the allies is expected to result in tn
passage Of an American trading-with
the-enemy act and the establishment
of an American blacklist of German
business houses in Latin-Americal
countries. Anti-American propaganda
in Central and South American coun
tries has been financed by German
firms with funds obtained from tn
United States. Now they are to be Gu