Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-11-22
ALLIES WAR
COUNCIL OPENS
Lloyd George Says Nations De-
pend on u. S. Ships.
AMERICANS ATTEND MEET
Colonel House Represented by His
Secretary-British Premier Con-
fident of Victory Over
the Kaiser

London. Nov. 21.-ChancellOr Bonar
Law, answering a query in the house
of commons, said he had information
quite officially" that President vii
son had sent instructions to Colonel
louise and General Bliss to attend the
allies first war council.
The question asked Mr.. Bonar Law
was whether President Wilson had re-
queSted Colonel House and General
Bliss to attend the first meeting Of the
supreme war council and had cabled
that the American government consid-
red unity of plan and control to be es-
Sential for the allies. The chancellor
replied:
president Wilson selected Colonel
House 70 take part not only in the in
-erallied conference. but in the SUI
Dreme war council. with General Bliss
IS his military advisor There ought
to be no misunderstanding. We have
that information quite officially"
Premier Opens Conference.
Premier LlOyd-George opened the
allied war conference here with a
speech which the conferees described
as being an important statement. but
which like the rest Of the proceedings.
Is being kept secret in its essentials
although some passages have been
given out. One cOnferee said q spirit
Of greatest earnestness and unity per-
meated the meeting and that the most
important practical results were
achieved.
The American representatives were !:
Gen. Tasker III. Bliss. chief of staff :
Admiral William S. Benson. chief of
naval operations; Thomas Nelson Per
kins. member of the priority board !:
Or. AlonZo Taylor, representing the
food controller; Bainbridge Colby OF
the United States shipping board Os-
car L. Crosby, assistant secretary of
the treasury: Vance Mccormick. chair
man Of the war trade board.
Col E. NJ. House, head Of the Ameri-
can mission, did not attend the meet
ing, but was represented by his secre-
tary. Gordon Auchincoss.
Depend on U. S. Shipping.
In the course of his speech Mr.
Lloyd-George said:
"ASsuming that the submarine stu
alton does not get worse, the easing of
the position Of the allies depends en-
tirely upon the dates on which the
American program of launching 6.0OO.-
900 tons of shipping, promised for 1918
comes into practical effect"
The premier said he wished to recog-
the people of the United States are
throwing themselves in the great task
He expressed absolute confidence that
the great democracies now marching
shoulder to shoulder would utterly
overthrow the menace which threat
ened the liberty Of the world.
He thanked the mission for ''the
invaluable services which the United
States navy has already rendered, not
only in protecting commerce. but in
dealing with the submarine, for vital
assistance in financing the war and for
effective help in many other ways"
With reference TO the question of
supplies, Mr.. loyd-George assured the
mission that the most drastic food re-
strictiOns We're about to be imposed
upon the people of the British Isles.
The British representatives were:
Premier Lloyd-George. Foreign Min
lister Balfour. Viscount Milner, George
NicOll Barnes and Earl Curzon of Ked-
lesion. constituting the war cabinet;
Lord Reading and Lord Northcliffe
the earl of Derby, Gen. Sir William X.
Robertson and Lieut.. Gen. Jan G..
SHUTS, representing the army; Sir Eric
Geddes and Admiral Sir John r. Jel-
iicoe. representing the navy; Maj. John
L. Baird, Baron RhOndda. ord Rob-
ert Cecil, Walter Hume Luns and DR..
Christopher Addison, representing re-
spectively aviation. food, blockade, pc
troleum and munitions.
The conference lasted an hour and a
half.