Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

fnploy It's military and naval forces
fna It's resources and energy where
hsy Will give tho greatest return In
advancing the common cause. The OK
GhanEe Of views which will take place
st tho conference, and the conclusions
which will be reached. will be OF the
highest value In preventing waste of
energy and In bringing into harmony
the activities OF The nations which
Nave been unavoidably acting In a
measure independently.
I'm looking forward to the assem-
filing OF the conference II cannot be
700 strongly emphasized ,i-at It is
var conference and nothing else, de-
Noted to devising ways and means to
Intensity the efforts OF the bciiiscrenis
aeainst Germany by complete CO.
operation under general plan and
thus bring the conflict to a speedy and
satisfactory conclusion
DATE AND PLACE
NOT MADE PUBLIC
The date and place Of the conference
has not been made public. though the
understanding hero is that the sessions
are about to begin.
In a statement accompanying his an
rouncement, Secretary Lansing en-
il to be a war conference and moth
ihS else. charged with mapping out 4
plan Of Campaign against Germany TO
%brinE the conflict 10 speedy and
satisfactory end"
There have been many indications
that the conference was called at the
request OF the United States. In Sc
iectinE its representatives. the United
la 1A1 in,
becoming involved in any discussion OF
peace terms or political questions.
There is NJ. diplomatic representa-
tive With the mission. The business
AZ this time OF every member OF Colo
mel Houses stan IS war making. and
there can be 10 discussion OF any
matter not having TO do directly with
the prosecution OF the war
The situation pictured by the sec
eriary shows that the real purpose OF
the conference is to create in effect,
great general stan TO co-ordnate
and direct the energies Of the co.
eeilisereuts. II will he the duty OF
the conferees 20 deal with military
strategy in such sweeping terms that
entire nations sill 10 but units of
operations IN the grea. game The
whole hshtinE force OF three-cour,hs
or the world is to be welded into one
mighty war-makiny machine.
Mr.. Lansing dlscloses something OF
Inc complex problems with which the
government has had 10 deal in servin.
as the treasurer and storehouse for
all the allies.
:feadE money and supplies have
oeen poured out at the call OF the va
''ous powers with lavish hand AL
each mission has come to present it's
.ase ana STATE its needs. its arguments
nave been heard aad the resources n.
the United States have been draw,
upon.
LACK OF CORRELATED
PLANS AND PURPOSES
Each visiting mission, however, has
dealt largely or only with its own
needs, each has clamored for men
ships. money. food, muni,ion. or wha,
IL most lacked. There has been the
same lack OF co-ordina,ed plan, and
predetermined objective ard purpo.e
mat has been apparent AT times on the
battle helds OF Europe
Thus. while dealing with the neces-
sity CT providing for its own military
needs and e!eCt!nC tho coUr:, o. its
. own military efforts. the United states
mas been made. by circumstances the
arbiter OF many phases OF the war
IL has been forced TO make decisions
which may have had ALREADY far
reaching effect upon the progress o.
the war.
The srea; war conference viii re.
liere the government OF this burden.
There is no hint OF stintiug the help,
but At the council table in.re will
BIO received aad Weighed side BY side.
the needs OF all the powers 10 be
aided. The resources OF each will ne
reviewed. and perfected plan OF ac.
tion adopted upon which can be based
the delivery OF American Supplies Of
men. money or food az the points where
they Willie m6st efec,iy. for ;he
comm IN cause.
The men who compose the .,lneri.
can mission a-e regarded by the gov
crnmen, as eminentiy fitted for their
part in the task. as each has been per
sonally associated with the develop
ment OF some phase o. the vast mo.
biliza:ion Of the nations resources that
has been going on since the United
States entered the war. Admiral Len
son has personally SUPERVISED and d.
rected the expansion OF tho navy. lie
has had the benefit no; only o. re-
ports from Vice Admiral Sims COM
manding American forces In European
waters, but also ti.e direct information
furnished by Admiral MayG. command.
er OF the Atlantic Fleet. nAer IKE lat
ter returned from Europe. whsr. IA,
vert as the persona! representative
Of the President.
MAY PLAN GREATER NAVAL
ACTIVITY AGAINST GkHM&NY
There have been indications that the
washington government was anxious
TO know what might he possible in
the way OF greater naval activity
against tho Germans. on his return
Admiral Mayo was in freou.n, confer
ence with Admiral Benson and mem
hers OF the navy general board. Nd.
n1iral Benson r1s the cnpss,s,, -,