The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-27


They have taken a house in Columbia
road, 1920 1 think is the number,
where office fixtures are now being
installed and which will be their
headquarters during their stay in
this country.
NJ. Tardieu, who has already found
time for a trip to New York on i'm
portant- business, is, IL you please. at
the supreme head in this country OF
all French missions having to do with
military, Industrial, or other phases
of the war. He is a young man, only
forty, but in his crowded life he has
found time to be simultaneously or
in turn a leading journalist, univer-
sity lecturer, diplomat, statesman, a
teacher of war theory in the greatest
of wars, a soldier-and many other
things.
In fact, he is one of the most in
terestinE and brilliant personalities
who has struck Washington in many
moons, and he has several important
men associated with him, to wit:
Edouard de Billy. delegate from the
quartermaster generals office; NJ.
Level, delegate from the supplies Of
nee; NJ. Came, OF the armament Of
fee. and NJ. Cablat, whose speciality
is ocean transportation. Then there
is, of course. the usual complement OF
secretaries and aides, most of them
fine young soldier chaps who have
been relieved for one reason or an
other.
These men, who will be in this coun-
try for several months at least, are
charged with carrying on the i'm
mense amount of work for which NJ.
viviani and his mission simply laid
the foundation. NJ. Tardieu, who IL
OF medium size, with just q suspicion
of plumpness, and always immacu-
lately attired. is a very dynamo for
energy. He has seen service in the
field with General Foch and Marshal
Joffre, and was twice wounded while
fighting at Artois in 1915.
y
British Experts Assisting
q. S. Military Service.
1t will be good news, 1 know. that
several OF the men who were here in
Mr.. Balfour's train are remaining on
in Washington. For instance, Major L
W. B. Reese, the aviation expert, will
be here indefinitely working with the
head of our aviation service, General
Squier, and Godfrey Butler, the
spokesman 81 the party. who is now
| in New York, is to return. / under
stand. Mr.. Butler Is one OF the most
| popular OF the fine, outstanding, intelli-
gent lot OF young Britishers who came
! over with the mission. They say that
it takes a born aristocrat to make a
good democrat, and certainly these
men bore out the adage.
Colonel Langhorne and Major
4 Puckle are also to stay on. I've been
told, to assist Brig. Gen. W. A White,
who is at the head of some sort of a
military commission. Lieut.. F. A.
| Gunther and Lieut.. c. J. White. new
Corners, are also on his stan of as
sistAnts.
The news of the safe arrival of NJ
Viviani, Marshal Joffre. and their com
panions in France salved our regret
at their departure. Please God, may
we hear soon that Mr.. Balfour. one
OF the most delightful guests Wash
ington has ever entertained, Is safe
on British soili
Echoes OF the French missions tour
town and IL amused me to read in a
Chicago paper the momentous news
that General Joffre did not bIvouac
in Mrs. Cranes Dubarry pink silk
bed"-the Richard T. Cranes turned
their splendid Tudor house over to the
city's guests-"one OF the most ex-
quisite beds, by the way. which ever
came out of France. This honor was
reserved for N. Viviani, and the gen
eral who saved France was tucked
away in Mr.. Cranes more sober and
serious room"
Washingtonians are telling their
share Of amusing anecdotes, too, and
everybody is passing round what
seemed to be Colonel Fabry's pet
Joke. I'm part American" the BLUE
Devil" loved to say. and to his COM
panion's reply: why. then you speak
( English" he'd pat his knee and say:
-Ah, no, you see it's only my leg
the artificial leg that replaces the one
lost in action in France-"which is
| American