The Washington herald., 1917-10-03
What the British Mission Is
Doing in The United
States.

Britain has sent the best men she
could find to the United States on
this purchasing errand because IL is
clear that at the present moment
there is no more important work
than this to be done. Upon the ship
ments from the United States de-
pends in considerable measure the
issue OF the war. A short time ago
there came a hurry cslI' for oil
that was needed urgently in the Unit
ed Kingdom for war purposes At
once the Mission headquarters got
busy. The most prominent oil men
In the country were asked for their
assistance, which they gave gener-
ously and with the most valuable ef-
feet "We swan in oll." Lord North
cliffe said humorously, I'VE bresthed
oil. The whole place seemed to reek
of It." The result was a steady ship
ment of oil across the Atlantic, and
for this relief much thanks" came
on the wings of the cable in return.
Unique Dinner Group.
/ met one Of the men who had been
up to his neck in oil at a dinner table
one evening. This was w. William
Boyd, Of the former shipping firm Of
Houlden, Weir & Boyd (of which
another partner. Sir William Weir, is
member of the British Air Board).
Beside him sat a man who, / found,
spoke Russian like a Muscovite, w.
T. Sieywright Cults. Scotch like VIM.
Boyd. and a shipowner as well, he
looks after the shipments that are
being made TO Russian ports for the
beneit of the Russian army. with
them were several other Mission rep
resentatives. One had been buying
and shipping hay. Another was
purchaser Of horses and mules. A
third was engaged in the shipbuilding
industry. There was a man at the
table who buys wheat to keep the
armies in France end Flanders from
suffering pangs Of hunger or having
TO live chiefly on potatoes. There
was a bacon expert whose duty IL is
10 see that the soldiers in the
trenches on the other side have their
regular rssher for breakfast. and
cheese-buyer who keeps these same
soldiers supplied with one of their
favorite meals, bread and cheese.
There was an authority on sugar, who
had been entrusted with the task OF
purchasing as much as he could Of
that pleasant and necessary commod-
ity.
Apart from the purchasers, the
British War Mission has an army of
inspectors, under the control OF a
very able Indian officer. Col. Kenyon,
writes Hamilton Fyfe OF the Mission.
in the Toronto Globe. Their duty it
is to make sure that the purchases
are "up to sample" The inspectors
are some Of them army officers, some
are civilian engineers. They not
only look carefully over finished
products. they also assist manufac-
turers with their expert advice. II
speaks well for the good sense ano
modesty of those who direct Ameri-
can Industries that such advice is at
tentively listened to and usually fol-
lowed. The manufacture of munitions
is a new line for many of the firms
now engaged in IL. They have much
to learn. and they prove their effi-
cheney by being willing and eager to
profit by the counsel of those who
have made II their special study.
No aBoostins" Department.
Another British military officer Of
exceptional ability who has been sent
to the United States is Gen. w. A.
White, head of the recruiting branch.
This organization has done valuable
work, largely by reason OF the gen.
erals energy and engaging personali-
ty. Many people imagine that the
British War Mission occupies itself
not only in recruiting, but also in
propa ganda work. This is a mistake.
There is no British boosting" de-
partment in the United States, though
Mr.. Geoffrey Butler. one of the lead
ing tutors in Cambridge University,
has been in the country for some
time directing such agencies as the
British War Films, which he has
managed with conspicuous ability. In
Western cities these films were made
the occasion Of very striking and un-
usual demonstrations OF approval and
sympathy.
How Money is Raised.
Still remains to be noted one OF the
most important activities Of the mis-
sion. This is the work of the finan-
| cial department. Wars are won by
money quite as much as by fighting.
Troops cannot fight unless they are
| fed well. clothed well. and kept sup
piled with all the engines OF destruc-
( ton that are required in a campaign.
Until the United States declared war,
Britain was the banker OF those al
lied nations which could not entirely
] finance themselves. Now it is the
Treasury at Washington which is ad-
vancing the money for the purchases
which the allies are making in this
country. The United States in not
lending any money for general pur-
poses. but only paying for the NUM-
tions and foodstuffs bought here, and
/ achalking up" the account, to be
squared at the end Of the war.
Experts In Finance.
| Complex and delicate negotiations
are necessary in this connection. The
men who undertake these must be
skilled. not alone in high finance, but
also in diplomacy OF the modern pat
tern, which substitutes frankness for
cunning and plain dealing for tortuous
lendeavors to deceive. The British