The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-08
SIR ERIC GEDDES
(coutinued Prom Page one.)

try DISTINGUISHED United States naval
officers and high officials. and We Know
how valuable are these opportunities or
close consultation. II is therefore Il
great pleasure 10 us and TO our Keen
atSraction to have been invited to visit
and confer with your administration.
'Tcrsonally. ! have the added pleasure
OF renewing my ACQUAINTANCE with The
United States of america, where. as 4
young man. spent some strenuous
years learning lumber and railroad WORK
and making many good friends.
For the last eighteen months W. on
our sid,. have had the opportunity Of
seeing your navy ut work, Hnd l am
vuicing the opinion not only of the royal
navy and the British nation, but OF the
whole Of the allies. " hen ! say that
your sailors, no less than yor gallant
troops, have won our deepest adllIra-
ton. 49,,
ance. ingenuity and good fellowship
CT these We knew VIC could expect from
the United States navy. and it Is these
very qualities in a degree fer exceeding
our authorizations which have ncd1ared
Jour officers and men Ia us all. and have
brought about that complete unity Of
spirit and purpose between the two
great navies to which the present visit
Of the board Of admiralty bears tcsil-
mony.
The dauntlcss determination which
the United States has displayed In Gre.
Iting "A huge trained bOdJ Of seamcn out
Of landsmen is one of the most striking
accomplishments OF the war. Had II not
been effectively done one would have
thought it impossible, and words fail
me to express our admiration OF this feat
undertaken and accomplished by your
navy department OF which Mr. Secretary
Daniels is the civil chief.
The Kindness OF the invitation and
the cordial and hospitablc welcome or
III" President. Mr.. Lansing. Mr. Daniels,
Admiral Benson and all other represent
tatives of your great country whom We
have met mas touched us deeply ana my
cullca Gur Vice Admiral Ddft. and all OF
oar party most gratefully acknowledge
It."
The fact that tho admiralty vessel
which brought the party TO the United
States flew the admiralty flag may have
Significance. Never before has this en-
sign hccn flown out of British nome
waters. 1t meant that a board Of the ad-
miralty. vested with full power TO make
decisions for the admiralty. which need
not be referred for confirmation was on
the ship. X.
Admiral Benson. chief Of operations.
met the visitors when they landed and
escorted them to Washington, where
they were received with full naval HON
orS. The dnY was devoted to an inter
change Of greetings. Sir Eric lunching
Tth President MilSon at 5 th% WIFI Ii
begin on nil matters involved in. the
joint effort of the allies and the United
States to crush German naval power and
also to make safe the seas for troop
transports. The cxfc, nature Of the sub
jccts 10 be taken 1D has not been dis
closed
In connection with the fact that the
admiralty flag had been flown OH the
way over. Sir Eric said he was glad of
an opportunity to thus return the COM
piiment. for Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt had s'Hlcd under his own flag while
In British waters. and Vice-Admiral
Sims. during the period that he COM