Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-13
ENTENTE NAVAL
 OFFICERS MEET
 IN WASHINGTON Plans for Clearing Atlantic of German U-Boats Are
 Being Formulated.
EXPECT KAISER TO
 SEND SUBS. TO U. S.
American Navy Will Undertake to Patrol Atlantic From Canada to Panama Canal, Using French
 and British Bases.

Washington, April 12-With high British and French naval officers in conference here today with American naval officials, definite steps have been taken toward participation by the American navy in the war against Germany.
 A patrol of the entire Atlantic ocean, reaching as far southward as the Panama canal zone, and possibly extending northward far enough to include Canada, will be the first duty of the American warships.
 With that goes the necessity of guarding against the probable exten- sion of the German submarine cam paign to the approaches of the major American ports.
 British and French ships now on this patrol duty will be withdrawn as soon as the American ships have their lines established. The American squadron will operate from the Brit ish and French bases in the South Atlantic wherever necessary. This was learned today in connec- ton with the announcement that Vice Admiral M. E. Browning of the Brit ish navy and Rear Admiral R. A Brassett of the French navy, are in Washington, conferring with Secre- tary of the Navy Daniels, Admiral Benson, chief of naval operations. and other officials of the American navy. The conference had to do with the part the American navy will play in the war, when it's strength has been increased.
 The commanders of the British and French naval forces off the American coast, it is; known, have expected that Germany would extend her subma- rine operations to those waters. Arrangements to patrol vigorously the approaches to the chief American harbors have been made, and will be carried out by American ships.
 Expect Blockade of U. s. Ports. It has been expected that Germany would formally announce subma- rine blockade of Boston, New York the mouth of the Delaware, the mouth of the Chesapeake, Charleston and Savannah. These are the arteries through which flows the main traffic in foodstuffs and war supplies for the entente allies. Unless a block ade is declared, in line of previous actions, Germany would be under the necessity of giving warning before at 1 tacking merchant craft sailing un- der neutral flag.
 Naval officials doubt if any consid- erable number of submarines can be the British islands for work on this side of the Atlantic. Sporadic opera tiOns within prescribed areas, how. ever, are looked for, and no precau- tion to guard against them will be | overlooked.
 The navy has considerable supply of submarine trap nets already avail able and more will be delivered in { l few days. It is assumed that the 1 approaches to American harbors vii be fully protected, and that flee of submarine chasers will comb tn. seas night and day for enemy under
 sea craft.
 The conference with the visitins officers dealt with many subjects. I
 is understood naval bases and othel
 British and French. ports and suppl. points on this side Of the Atlanti'
 will be open for the American navy
 and that whenever the need arisei
 ports on the British and Frencl
 coasts will be placed at their dis posal.
 ] Accompanying Admiral Browning
 are the following British officers
 Captain A. Lownes, D. A. Miller, flai
 secretary to the commander: Fla
 Lieut.. Commander A. R. Day Southby
 and Capt. P. J. Cheesman of the Roya
 Marine Life infantry. Accompanying
 Admiral Brassett are his flag lieuten
 ant, James Hensey of the Frencl
 navy, who also is member of tn
 French chamber of deputies.
 eosn nn -l;,,;,~ roor, .,,;+o So