Bisbee daily review., 1917-11-08
BIC CONFERENCE
 OF ALLIES ABOUT
 TO BE LAUNCHED
American Representatives to Allies War Board Arrive at British Port. Allied Gen. eral Staff Is Expected.
(By Review Leased Wire.)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-An Amer ican mission landed in England today on the eve of the opening of the first great war conference in which the United States will participate. Col onel Edward M. House, President Will sons personal friend and adviser, is the officially designated representa- tive of the United States. He is ac- companied by staff representing eN- cry agency in the United States in cluding Admiral Benson, chief of na- val operations and General Bliss, chief of staff of the army.
 Announcement by Secretary Lan- sing tonight of tSe arrival of the party lat a British por5" released American newspapers from a pledge of silence as to the personnel of the mission and its movements. The departure of this group of the most distinguished men in the governments war councils was a carefully guarded secret until they were safely through the submarine zone Even many army and navy of ficials were not aware that their chiefs had sailed.
 Conference Not Set
 The date and place of the confer ence has not been made public, al though the understanding here that the sessions are about to begin. h a statement accompanying his an nouncement, Secretary Lansing em- phasized the fact that this gathering is to be a war conference and noth- ing else, charged with mapping out a plan of campaign against Germany to bring the conflict to a speedy and satisfactory end"
 There have been many indications that the conference was called at the request of the United States.
 No Dip Iomats Included.
 In selecting its representatives, the United States has provided in advance against becoming involved in any dis cussion of peace terms or political questions. There is no diplomatic rep resentatives with the mission. The business at this time of every mem- Der of Colonel Houses staff is war making and there can be no discus sion of any matters not having to do directly with the prosecution of the war
 Allied General Staff.
 The situation pictured by the sec retary shows that the real purpose of the conference is to create in ef- feet a great general staff to co-ordi- nate and direct the energies of the coibelligerents. It will be the duty of the conference to deal with mill tary strategy in such sweeping terms that entire nations will be but units of operation in the great game. The whole fighting force of three-fourths of the world is to be welded into one mighty war making machine.
 All Needs Considered.
 At the council table there will be received and weighed, side by side, the needs of all the powers to be aid ed. The resources of each will be reviewed and a perfected plan of ac- tion adopted upon which can be based the delivery of American supplies of men, money or food at the points where they will be most effective.
 The men who compose the Ameri- can mission are regarded by the gov ernment as eminently fitted for their part in the task, as each has been personally associated with the devel- opment of some phase of the vast mo- bilization of the nations resources that has been going on since the United States entered the war. Ad- miral Benson has personally super vised and directed the expansion of the navy.
 There have been indications that the Washington government was anx- ious to know what might he possible in the way of greater naval activity against the Germans. Admiral Ben son has the concensus of American naval oninion az to the course deemed