The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-28
FRENCH MISSION
To REMAIN HERE
LONGER; HAS BIC
TASK BEFORE t
STRENGTH OF THE u. S.
NAVY AN EYE-OPENER
Some of the Principal Cities
Of the Country Are to
Be Visited.

WASHINGTON, ID. C.. April 81
Conferences between Frances war
mission and Representatives OF the
broadrnrd in their scope.
The French mission left Paris with
! unlimited powers Ia negotiate with
the United States on all subjects
military, naval. financial and cconom::
ic-but at the time ii was believed
that little more would be required of
! it in this country than 10 salute
Frances now brOtherS-in-arms. the
mission has found, however, that den.
lnte and specific understandings con-
ccrning the war against Germany are
desired, and the conferences are now
proceeding on that basis.
Members Of the mission in confer.
ence with various officials informed
them to-day that the things France
needs most from the United States
are moeny. food in quantities, fertil-
i2erS, coal. steel. oil and tranSporta-
tion equipment for service on both
land and sea. especially a great num-
Der of ships to carry materials from
the New 10 the Old World.
Exchanging Views.
The Frc nCh visitors spent virtually
The entire day exchanging views ana
information with representatives OF
the American government. Inc
groundwork for joint conferences OF
the British, French and American rep
rcsentativeS was laid during talk
between British Foreign Minister Bal
four and Rene Niviani. head OF the
French COnfcrecS.
From Admiral Cochcprat and other
naval members Of the commission AL
miral Benson and other American ma
val officers received first hand lnror'
nation regarding the war operations
of the French navy. No official state
ment concerning their talk was made,
but the French officers are known 10
be in a position to Offer. The American
navy any assistance il desires lnclua'
ing the use of ports in France.
Problems Discussed,
Marshal Joffre and The military con-
tingen, under him discussed army
problems with officials of the War De-
partment and war college experts,
Most Of the facts communicated Dv
The visitors were Of 4 highly conf1den.
tial nature. Marshal 1Offrc himself
and his staff called al the army war
college and upon Major General Scott
ana T1fJll lDil5 VI ilI' ''''
The. MARSHAL addressing himself TO
General Scott. expressed with great
carncstneSS the gratiIigcatidn OF the
French army al having Americans as
brothers in arms
Tribute to Joffre.
General Scott. in reply, referred 10
Marshal .Ioffrr aS !hr foremost soldier
of thr world. the victor OF The MalT"
the decisive conflict Of the greatest
war in history
Marshal .Iolfrc also visited the army
engineer barracks and received many.
of the officers. The marshal himself
is an engineer and he noted with
smiles the American engineer corps
insignia. castle similar TO that used
in the French army.
NJ. Niyi;ni devoted The day 10 con-
fcrrine with American officials, rec"iv-
ing callers and visited the United
States suprrmr court. :,
Emile Hurrlaquc. who accompanied
the mission TO tn" United States eSpc-
cially for the purnos" OI co-ordlnatlnS
American benevolent arrirlileS for
France. and who has been acting as
an assistant 10 VI. NivianO. received
CONTINUED on Page Eight.)