The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-08
Twenty-seven Prominent
Americans In Party
Headed by Col. House
CONDUCT OF WAR
TO BE SOLE TOPIC
Secretary Lansing Outlines
Some of Purposes of
The Conference
lBy Associated Press.l

London. Nov. s.-The special AM
eriean commission to the allied cons
Terence arrived In London last mid
night. 1t Is headed by Colonel IT, M.
House as special commissioner with
the honorary rank OF special ambas-
sador. q
We had pleasant and unevent-
full voyage" Colonel House told The
Associated Press. THE weather was
fair. There were no submarines. 1t
was the best vacation have had In
two years"
The commissioners were met by
Sims, commander OF the American
destroyer squadron, and Foreign
Secretary Balfour. There are twen-
ty-seven persons in the party, in
Guiding Admiral Benson, General
Bliss, Vance Mccormick, Chairman
of the war trade board; Oscar n.
Crosby, assistant secretary of the
treasury. cambridge Colby, of the
United States shipping board; DR.. A,
e. Taylor, representing the food
controller, and Paul Cravath. Mrs.
House and the wives OF several 9TH
er commissioners are in the party.
Colonel and Mrs. House were driven
to the residence Of the Duke of Rox-
burghe' where they will stay while in
London.
.'....-.: Go Into Conference,
The members of the mission arose
late this morning, much refreshed
after their first comfortable nights
sleep in many days. The first thing
they did was to go into conference
with Colonel House presiding. The
meeting lasted an hour. Colonel
House outlined a tentative program
for the next few days, calling for q
series OF conferences with their on
cials. Each member of the mission
will discuss his particular work with
British officials, in charge OF similar
activities in England.
Admiral Benson had an early call
to make on Admiral Jellicoe, first sea
lord, and General Bliss expected to
visit the war office during the day.
Il am impatient to see with my
own eyes, the great efforts England
Is making toward solving the ship
ping problem" said Mr.. Colby, land
with this end in view will pay an
early visit to the great shipyards.
America is now fully awake to the
importance Of tonnage in this war
and is carrying out a program Of un-
paralleled magnitude. Shipbuilding
now takes priority over all other
work in our country"
Some Of the members Of the mis-
sion are planning an early visit to
France.
Secretary Lansing made this state
ment:
"The government OF the United
States will participate in the ap-
preaching conference OF the powers
waging war against the German
empire and has sent as its repre-
sentative, Edward M. House, who is
accompanied by Admiral w. s. Ben.
son, chief of naval operations; Gen.
Tasker III. Bliss, chief of staff. u. 8.
A.; Oscar 7. Crosby, assistant secre-
tary OF the treasury; Vance @. Me-
Cormick, chairman OF the war trade
board; Bainbridge Colby, United
States shipping board; DR.. Alonzo y.
Taylor, representing the food con-
trolIer: Thomas Nelson Perkins,
representing priority board, and
Gordon Auchincloss, as secretary.
''The conference is essentially a
war conference, with the object Of
perfecting a more complete CO.
ordination Of the activities Of the
various nations engaged in the con-
fict, and the more comprehensive
understanding OF their respective
needs in order that the Joint efforts
of the o-belligerents may attain the
highest war efficiency. While a
definite program has not been adopt
ed IL may be assured that the sub
jects 70 be discussed will embrace