New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
British Commissioner De-
s;res to See Americans
on Battlefield
Gerard Criticises
Speaker Clark
Farmer Ambassador Urges
Publishers to Back
Draft Plan

fagt o. OiNtiF .' '"N ~
n, Waldorf last night ard briefly,
,,5 q little shyly, welcomed the
r,,e5 States into the war.
The sneaker was Major General &. 7.
gridces, a member Of the British
c,mnission, who had come up from
v,.biprton for the occasion. lie is
-, Of tho handful Of survivors Of tina;
f,r, evolutionary army which Eng
,,5 sent 10 the help Of France IN
,,,ust. 1919. His audience was COM
,..s5 Of some 900 members Of the
,-s,icsn Newspaper Publishers As
,.,i,tion and their guests gathered
rom all parts OF the United States
ard Canada.
n was probably the first time in
history that a british soldier in uni
hrn had ever spoken in such bower
fAmerican flags.
There is a fine old military maxim
General Bridges said, (Which says;
When in doubt, march TO the sound OF
"a, runs And IL is there, upon those
go Of battle, that we would like to
q, the manhood Of your nation, and
., see the Stars and Stripes fly beside
Il, tyisolor and the Union Jack"
His hearers interrupted him here
vaA & storm OF cheering and cries Of
.yop,re right" and "We1l be there!'
Il was this point in his speech, all Of
vb;,b struck a tremendously respon-
.i,. chord. which seemed 10 meet with
n, most instant and overwhelming ap-
FroriL
APPLAUSE Greets Gerard
Preceding him. \. ". Rowell X. c.
member Of the Canadian Parliament,
rd expressed the qualification Of his
sgptry al the entrance of the United
ssie, into the struggle for liberty and
5,noeracy Following him, Ambassa-
tf James ". Gerard. himself greeted
v.ih q tempest OF applause, spoke words
q advice. warning and congratulation
10 his eountrymen with relation 10 the
aue great subject.
Nr. Gerard expressed the belief that
asre would be no revolution in Ger
niuy. Rum, he said, would probably
ome but not revolt.
he congratulated the country that 1t
id not have as President champ
Clark. and this IN spite OF ms,
Gsard's. efforts i'm Clark behalf.
4 supported him financially when he
vas candidate for Presid dent SAID
ne ambassador. "but / think there IS
mns benefcent instinct which has
itp; the American people from putting
'trWard this mere statesman.
Reveals secret History
Nov. will tell you a piece Of
secret history. II he did not suffer
irom constitutional cold feet, he might
b President to-day, because, al the
tine Of that convention, M the middle
u the night, enough votes came over
give him majority but that was
,si enough A threc-hfths vote Is re
Vired, and. al his request, his sup
writer's caused an adjournment OF tnat
pnvention; the people Of nerve VINO
stfe supporting hIm said: Go on with
At convention and you will get enough
'9its before morning. Rush the other
net, and tear them OUT He wanted
A. adjournment. / suppose he wanted
20 out and call Tor volunteers.
laughter And IL is because OF that
rtni Of nerve that he is not sitting
We're he could do US immeasuranle
tsnage to-day
GENERAL Bridges, accompanied by
Aaler Spender-C Clay reached the Penn
Yhanla Terminal about 8 o'clock, ana
sts met there by Theodore Rousseau,
Ae Mayors secretary; Colonel Cor
Illus Vanderbilt and George Nc
Meny, representing the publishers.
hey we're taken 20 the BIltmOTc, and
% not appear IN the grand ballroom
the Waldorf until the dinner there
I'd been in progress half an hour.
iteir entrance was the signal Tor
peai welcome, the diners springlng 10
aslr feet, clapping, cheering and waV-
g their napkins for a full minute.
General Bridges's Speech
lais demonstration was repeated
sa'h General Bridges rose to speak.
Dc isid:
Noihing would have given Mr.. Bal
oI greater pleasure than TO have
sea present az this great representa-
1V gathering tonight lie greatly re-
Fss that the urgent nature OF has
tatifeFg Nos ,trnrawerI him, fVOun
wing your very kind invitation. lie
os however. that the occasion was
-s H great importance. and asked me
rf'onaliy 20 express on his behalf and
nat Of all the members Of the
sAoh, our profound gratitude for
generous and cordial welcome
.eh We have received IN this great
~sstry Of yours.
ihsse demonstrations OF welcome
s gwen US both sympathy and en-
.Iagement, They have made IL
,s-aaantly clear that. having made
Aon cause with the Allies, the
-'td States is determined 10 insure,
ssery means In her power. that the
- oi democracy, freedom and hu-
1'y which our cause represents
Be upheld.
ee greatest asset Of the Allies in
var y that they are fighting for
So deals Had IL not been so we
- not have continued the struggle.
a. plain 70 US from the beginning,
h., N 1918 Austria by want0nly at
a.ng little Serbia and Germany by
~ INVASION and devastation Of Bel
Il" plunged half the world into war.