The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-25
BRITISH cAME IN SECRET.
MADE TRIP UNDER VEIL OF
CENSORSHIP.
i'alfOur Party Arrived AT Halifax
Thence Went to VancebOrO. Me,
Where Americans Welcomed Them.
Washington, April 22.-With the

washington, April 22.-With the
''t iioar party aaiciy IN Washington.
Jhe sat department has permitted
n1'iIe~ton o. ne det.is ol the long
t'ip } V1y of UalifaN EaureDpfo.
Me-. Portland. aEd Worcester. which
Was surrounded NTH secrecy ana pre-
g" "ut!o-ls never Dclogv eqaaled in ths
country.
The British commissioners stole
secretly away from England April IL
on a fast cruiser protected in every
possible way from German spies who
might have got out word to lurking
submarines. The voyage was unevent-
full and the party arrived at Halifax
friday. Crossing to ST. John, they
went on a special train TO the little
Canadian town of McAdams, just
across the international bridge which
Werner Horne, former German Of
ficer, attempted to blow up.
Meanwhile the American reception
ton last Sunday night under the i'm
preston that the British had started
two days earlier than they did. With
five car special train standing with
steam up at the station, the commit
tee waited anXiously from Monday
until Friday afternoon, when the word
came from Halifax which sent them
on a night ride to the border.
At o'clock Saturday morning the
party arrived at the little frontier
town of vanceboro.
To these modest surroundings the
special train which had gone on to
McAdams returned two hours later
bearing England's eminent statesmen.
AS it drew across the bridge into
the station, assistant Secretary Long,
Zen. Wood. Admiral Fletcher and
| others mounted the rear of the OBJ
servation car and disappeared inside
20 welcome the commission formally
20 American soil
The various members Of the com.
mission, including Mr.. Balfour him.
self. have brought with them much Of
the atmosphere Of quiet suffering and
pain that has afflicted England dur
ing the last two and half years.
Even in the few hours we have
Neen in the United States" Mr.. Bal
our said, 1--WE have been struck with
he atmosphere of calm and peaceful
| ncss which naturally prevails. The
nited States fortunately probably
will never experience the human
'osses that France for so long and
| ourselves during the past months
| ave experienced.
| Nevertheless, doubt If you can
oresee what fundamental changes
he war will bring into your ordinary
''fe. We in England look back with
| WHEcment at the vital changes dur
ng our past 80 months of mobiliza-
lion and imagine that many of the
changes we have gone through, SO
alutary even for themselves alone.
will be repeated here"
Mr.. Balfour, while unwilling TO
speculate on what form American
anticipation in the war might take,
said he had no doubt that Americas
efforts would astonish the world, par
| ticularly Germany. He indicated that
it was his opinion that If Germany
had foreseen how fully the United
States would enter the struggle she
would not have precipitated war be-
+ween the two countries.
More and more it has become evil
! dent that the commission, aside from
any technical aid it may render to
this country, has come over for g.
general and broad understanding OF
the whole American point of view:
without as yet having outlined
specific programme in its own mind.
1t is thought probable therefore
that the direction the conferences
are to talk will be given largely by
President Wilson and Secretary Lam
sing and that the British delegates
will gladly welcome whatever lead 10
given them.