Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-25
GREAT ADVANTAGE
IN MORAL EFFECT
OF SUCH ACTION
French Commission on the
Mayflower En- Route
to Washington.
REACHES HAMPTON ROADS
AT DAYLIGHT ON TUESDAY
Members Have Unlimited Powers
to Negotiate on All War
Subjects. ISL
CORDIAL WELCOME EXTENDED
Visitors to Place Themselves at Dis
posal OF President During
Entire Stay.
REACHES HAMPTON ROADS !.
AT DAYLIGHT ON TUESDAY
CORDIAL WELCOME EXTENDED

by Associated Prcss1
FORTRESS MONROE. VA. April "a.
Frances war commissioners to the
United States reached Hampton Roads
to-day. and tonight they arc bound
up Chesapeake Bay. for Washington
on board the presidential yacht May
howcr. The mission. Of which Rene
Niviani. Vice Premier and Minister OF
Justice. is the official head and Mar
shall Joffrc, brings no written inStruc-
tiors from the French government. the
ministry having decided to give its
members unlimited powers to ncgo-
tiate with the United States on all
subjccts-military. naval and financial.
II is prepared to discuss the sending
OF an American cSpeditionary force TO
France. Marshal Joffre and other miii-
tary members will indicate to the
American officials with whom they are
10 confer several important military
reasons which they consider renders
the sending of such force advisable.
The most important Of these reasons
is found in the moral effect to be had
from the presence OF American troop.
and the American flag on the battle
fields OF France.
The French idea OF an American ex-
petition calls for fighting force sup
ported by auxiliary services. such as
railway STATS, railway material tele-
graph and telephone lines, automobile
transport and 4 strong aviation sec
ton. The French government is ready
to offer whatever may he considered
necessary to assist in sea operations,
including the use for naval purposes of
any or all ports in France The Minis-
try OF Marine has worked out for SUBJ
mission to the American government
comprehensive plan for overseas trans
ports, for both army and naval pur-
poses. and for the provisioning OF the
civil population.
FRANCE NEEDS LOANS
OF s1OO.O0O.GOO MONTHLY
Financially. France needs loans OF
s1oo,ooo.oo0 monthly. to he spent in
the United States. Detailed official in
formation on this subject will be suhs
mitted TO the American government at
the conferences 10 be held I'm Wash.
ington.
MIR. Viviani. az OFFICIAL head Of the
commiss ion. during his stay here gave
the following statements to a stan cor
respondent OF the Associated Press
who accompanied the mission from
France:
Every American will understand
that in Difference to the illustrious
President of the United States. WHO
am going to see very soon, reserve
first word for him. I will have oe-
casion to see YOU again and tell the
American nation. through you. in
more complete manner, the emotions
with which the representatives OF
France greet. In the name OF their
country. the first democracy OF the
world. with which France shares the
same ideals.
(SiSned ''ElNIANI"
The members OF the commission got
their first glimpse of the shores OF
America at daylight this morning
American naval officials, aboard a
hotilIa OF dcstroyers. met the former
French passenger liner which brought
the visitors over and their convoy at
II o'clock last night, about 100 miles
al sea.
FRENCH AND AMERICAN
SHIFTS EXCHANGE SALUTE:
The French and the American vce-
sells exchanged signals, and then all
continued toward the Virginia rapes
Not light was showing at any time
during the maneuvcr. and the vessels
knew of each other only ny the phos-
phorcsconce kicked up by the pro-
pellers. At dawn, the tlot.!la and its
cues, fell in by rendezvous with ap
American cruiser which led tho way
into the great harbor o. Hampton
Roads.
hll the members Of the commission
were on the bridge of their boat with
the French admiral comma nding. short
ly after o'clock TO see the entrance
The day was magnificent. with hardly
ripple disturbing the broad expanse
OF water. AS the roads came into View
Marshal Joffre turned to an American
naval officer. serving as pilot. and
said:
What a wonderful scene. love TINS
sunshine. 1t reminds me OF my ouh
country--the south OF France"
Once inside the harbor. the Amer
lean conveys slipped away TO their an
choraEes. Meanwhile every American
ship In the harbor hoisted to their
mastfcads tho French tcicolor, AMI
the band OF a warsliin played ",chs