Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-25
FRENCH WANT US.
ARMY IN EUROPE
Joffre to Plead His Ma
tiOn'S Cause at War
Conference Today.
STEAM|NG TO CAPITAL
Yacht Mayflower Carries
Distinguished Guests
to Washington.
FORTRESS MONROE. Va, Aprt'

FORTRESS MONROE, Va, Apr'
24.-Frauce's war commissioners to
The United States reached Hampton
Loads today and tonight they are
bound mp Chesapeake bay for Wash
ihgton on board the presidential yacht
MayfloUer
The mis- sion, of which Reno EiN'ani.
vice premier AMI minister Of justice,
is the official head, and Marshal Jot-
fle. a member. brings no "ri'ten In
stuctions from the French govern
u.cnt, tie ministry having Seeded ["
rive its memo pers unlimited power TO
NEGOTIATE with the United States on
all subjects. military, naval ana tlnan'
c!al H. IS prepared to discuss tho
SEEDING OF an American eNpeditionary
force TO Francc Marshal ,'Offrc and
ether military members VIII indicate
10 the American officials with whom
they are 20 confer several important
military reasons which .ney con5ider
ron iers the sending CT slch a rorco
advisable. The most important or
these reasons Is found in the moral
effect to he had from the presence of
American troops and TIE American
flag on the battlefields of France.
Want Full Force.
j he FTc1cl luGd VI an <Nil.'' ~ ~ w.
uediiton calls for fighting force sup
rortei by auxiliary services. such as
railway stdffs railway material, base
repair shops, tel" 5raph and telephone
lrcs, automobile transport and a
strong aviation section. The French
poNernmert is ready to offer Whatever
may be considered necessary to assist
in sea operations. including the use
foi naval Purposes of any or all ports
,s-t pf rit IN. a
worked out for submission to the
American government a compre en-
sive plan for overseas transports Tor
both army ard navy purposes ana Tor
tie provisioning OF the civil popdla-
tioh.
Need Much Money.
Financially. France needs loans OF
800. 900, 900 monthly to be spent in
the United States. Detailed official
information on this subject will be
submitted to the American govern
ment at the conferences in WASH
ington.
Mr.. Viviana, as official head of the
commission, during his stay here gave
the following statement to a staff
correspondent of the Associated
Press. who accompanied the mission
from France:
Viviani Is Pleased.
Every American will understand
that in Difference to the illustrous
president of the United States, whom
/ am going to see very soon, l re-
serve first word for him. j will have
occasion to see you again and tell the
American nation thru 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.
(signeD: "VIVIANI."
The members of the commission
got their first glimpse of the shores
of America at daylight this morning.
American naval officials aboard
fotlla of destroyers met the former
French passenger liner which
brought the visitors over and the con-
voy at II o'clock last night about one
hundred miles at sea.
Cruiser the Pilot.
The French and the American YES
sells exchanged signals and then all
continued toward the Virginia capes.
Not light was showing at any time
during the maneuVer and the vessels
knew of each others presence only by
the phosphorescence kicked up by the
propellers. At dawn the flotilla and
its guests fell in by rendezvous with
an American cruiser which led the
way INTO the great harbor of Hamp-
ton Roads.
All the members of the commission
were on the bridge of their boat with
the French admiral commanding,
shortly after o'clock, to see the en-
trance. The day was magnificent with
hardly n ripple disturbing the broad
expanse of water. AS the Roads came
into view, Marshal .Ioffre turned to an
American naval officer serving as
pilot and said:
Loves America.
what a wonderful scene. I love
this sunshine. 1t reminds me of my
own country-the south of France"
Once inside the harbor the Ameri-
can destroyers slipped away to their
, anchorages. Meanwhile every Ameri
can ship in the harbor hoisted to
their mastheads the French tricolor
and the band of warship played the
'Star Spangled Banner. Marshal
Joffre and the military and navel
members stood at salute until the last
note had floated across the water
while the civilian members stood with
barred heads Immediately after came
the French national anthem. which
was salutei in a similar manner.
The ship bearing the mission
dropped anchor off Fortress Monroe.
while the convoy steamed several
miles farther on.