Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-22
AMERICANS MEET.
BRITISH WAR HEADS
u. S. Mission and United King.
dom's Council in First
Conference.
PROCEEDINGS SECRET.
Lloyd George Urges Y. =. to Send ns
Many Troops as Possible to Europe
ns Enrly ns Possible.

London. Nov. 2O.-The American mis-
sion, headed by Col. Edward NJ. House,
purpose OF discussing and co-ordinating
efforts to win the war. has had its initial
meeting with the British war council and
it's right hand men.
The conference lasted an hour and
half. the members having frequent re-
course to the mass Of statistics and off,
cial documents at their command.
There was little formality about the
proceedings. Lord Reading started them
by explaining the purposes Of the meeting
and general discussion followed. At the
close the conferees reported that satisfac-
tory progress had been made.
Premier Lloyd George opened the con-
ference with speech which the conferees
described as having been an important
statement The rpeech like the rest of
the proceedings, is being kept secret. but
one cOnferee said the spirit of greatest
earnestness and unity permeated the
meeting and that the most important prac-
teal results were achieved.
The American representatives We're
Gen. Tasker II. Bliss. chief of staff !:
Admiral William s. Benson chief of naval
operations; Thomas Nelson Perkins.
| fHelnDeT OI tne pTIOTlty DOaTu, Ut.
Taylor, representing the food controller;
cambridge Colby, Of the United States
shipping board: Oscar r. Crosby, assist
ant secretary of the treasury, and Vance
Mccormick, chairman of the war trade
board. Colonel House did not attend
the opening session.
The British representatives were Pre-
mier Lloyd George, Foreign Minister
Balfour. Viscount Miner. George Nicoll
Barnes and Earl Curzon of Kedleston,
constituting the war cabinet; Lord Read
ing and Lord Northcliffe, the Earl of
Derby, Gen. Sir VIM. r. Robertson and
Lieut.-Gen. Jan c. SHUTS. representing
the army; Sir Eric Geddes and Admiral
Sir John r. Jellicoe, representing the
navy; and Major John l.. Baird, Baron
Rhondda. Lord Robert Cecil, Walter
Hume Long and DR.. Christopher Addison
representing respectively aviation. food,
blockade. petroleum and munitions.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Lloyd
George said:
Assuming that the submarine situa-
ton does not get worse the easing of the
position of the allies depends entirely on
the dates on which the American pro-
gram of launching six million tons of
shipping promised for 1918 comes into
practical effect"
The premier said he wished to recog-
| nize the eager earnestness with which
the people OF the United States are
| throwing themselves into the great task
| He expressed absolute confidence that
! the great democracies now marching
| shoulder to shoulder would utterly over
| throw the menace which threatened the
| liberty Of the world.
| The premier thanked the mission for
1.-The invaluable services which the Uni
| ted States navy has already rendered
not only in protecting commerce. but ir
dealing with the submarine. for vita
assistance in financing the war and fol
effective help in many other ways"
| With reference to the question Of sup.
plies. Mr. Lloyd George assured the mis-
sion that the most drastic food restric-
lions were about to be imposed upon
| the people of the British Isles.
| The premier told the mission that the
collapse Of Russia and the reverses tc
Italy made it even more imperative thar
before that the United States send as
many troops as possible across the
Atlantic as early as possible
Dealing with the airplane situation
the premier said:
| Command of the air in the battle
line is almost as essential as command
Of the sea. The people of the United
states possesses to an unusual degree
qualities of enterprise and daring
necessary to the creation Of successful
airmen. The American climate also
lends itself to the development of thu
air service, because it is clearer an(
more equable than the climate of tn,
British Isles. This is of special value
because the training of pilots. the ere
alton of flying units and the building
n a a nj n
creation of an air service as the build
ing OF airplanes themselves
Referring to food the premier said tina
the allies were becoming increasingly de
pendent on what the North American con
tinent could produce and economize II
the use of food. He assured the mission
that the most drastic restrictions wer
about to be imposed on the people of tn
British Isles. partly in order to assis
the allies. partly in order to leave NOR
room for the carriage of men and mum
tons to the battle fronts. The premie
said he regarded the tightening Of tn
blockade as of next Importance.
CLOSE cooperation between the Unite
States and the powers Of western Europ
can bring still greater economic pressur
, to bear on the central powers during tn
war;" he said.
The premier then thanked the misso
for the greatest services rendered by h
| United States navy
In reply Admiral Benson on behalf c
the mission said that the mission wa
learning many lessons from the allies an
expressed the gratitude of it's members fo
the manner with which all sources of ir
: formation had been thrown open to then
1.-THE United States is heart and soul
\ the war;" he said. land the countr
( absolutely endorses the statement of Pres
dent Wilson that none Of its resource
, would be spared, its men and ships, c
. work, in order to win the war
Admiral Benson then gave the confer
ence information as to what the Unite
, States has done and is doing, not only
training armies, In building fleets. and
! the manufacture of munitions but In foo
, economy and the construction Of aircraft