The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-05-04
ALLIES ADM|RALS
GROSS THE: SEA TO
CONFER WITH j. 5.
French and British Commanders
Come on FIagships.
Have Farley With Secretary Daniels
and Admiral Benson at Washing
TOM. S. FlotiIla to Patrol
Atlantic and Caribbean.

washington, April 13.-Vice Admiral
Browning of the British navy and
Rear Admiral de Grasse of the French
navy conferred with Secretary Daniels
and Admiral Benson, chief of opera
lions, on cooperation between the al
lied navies for the conduct of the war.
Botn foreign commanders came TO the
United States on their flagships.
The first step by the United States
navy in taking up its part of the war
operations will be to take over the At
lantic and Caribbean path patrols
hitherto maintained by British and
French ships. No announcement of
the results of the conference was
made.
Eventually American ships probably
will relieve those of the allies in all
north and south Atlantic waters on
this side of the world. Protection
would be furnished under that plan
for the Canadian coast and also for
British oil tankers plying to ports on
the Mexican and South American
coasts.
VIII ACT as fleet Grows.
As the strength of the American
fleet increases in small craft, subma-
rines, destroyers and other lighter
units. the portions allotted to that
fleet in the joint task of making GER
tain the freedom of the seas against
German submarines will be increased.
The visiting officers furnished much
first-hand information as to the steps
the entente powers have found most
effective in dealing with the submarine
peril
1t was said the officers came primar-
lily for conferences with entente am
bassadOrs, but 1t is expected that
much of their time will be spent in
conference at the navy department.
War Conferences With Allies.
The government began preparations
for important war councils to be held
here soon with commissions from Eng
land and France.
The state department announced that
Ii expects the arrival within ten days
of British delegation, headed by For
eign Minister Arthur ]. BalfOur and
including Admiral de Chair, represent
ing the navy; General Bridges, repre-
senting the army, and the governor of
the Bank of England.
1t was learned authoritatively also
that n French commission. headed by
NJ. Viviani, minister of justice and for
mer premier. will arrive about the
same time.
The understanding reached with the
allies provides for American assist
ance in the war during the first year
to this extent:
The employment of all available
american naval craft up to and in
Guiding the class of destroyers to fight
submarines in European waters and to
guard the sea lanes for the protection
of shipping
The assignment Of American cruis-
erS to patrol allied possessions from
Nova Scotia to Panama and TO scout
for and round up German raiders in
the Atlantic.
The Strengthening of the American
battleship fleet. no immediate use for
which is contemplated
The raising and training of an army
of 100000 men, part or all #
which will be needed in Europe if the
war lasts more than a year longer.
The reduction of the rate of ex-
change by the extension of liberal
credits 70 the allies. the loan of So
600. 100000 proposed by the admins
tration being the first step to accom-
plish this purpose.