The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-24
PRESIDENT TO
SHARE MESS
WITH YANKS
CHRISTMAS
Formal Dinner With Pershiing
and Staff Later-Hoover
and Hurley Hold Confer
ence With President.
IN ENGLAND THURSDAY
(By Associated Press)

PARIS, Dec. 24-With regard to
President Wilson's approaching visit
to England it is surmised that in ad-
, dition to the social function of his
stay, the occasion may arise for the
discussion of important subjects with
the British statesmen. and the presi-
dent is prepared for such an eventual
ity. 1t is evident from the attitude OF
French r = pie that his visit to Lon
don and elsewhere in England will be
followed by them with the greatest
interest.
Since the end of the social functions
in Paris in connection with the presi-
dents visit here. his conferences with
various American officials with the
evident purpose of familiarizing him.
self with the details of the important
questions to be discussed have been
closely followed by the French public,
as have been his exchanges of views
with the statesmen of other ma ations
Particular interest has been attached
to the action of himself and his ad-
visors in giving attention to the pro-
visioning Of the European countries
that are lacking food, which, it has
been indicated, he regards as one of
the most Immediately pressing prob
lens.
Ready to Visit Front.
President Wilson's plans for visiting
American army headquarters at Chau-
mont and then proceeding to England
are now complete. He will leave
Paris late tomorrow night and will
not return until New Years day.
His movements, while he is with the
army, which were at first entirely in
the hands of General Pershing, have
been changed In one respect. Mr. Will
son insisted upon taking Christmas
dinner with the troops and eating
from q mess kit with the soldier about
him. He will have formal dinner with
General Pershing and his officers
later. After reviewing the troops the
President will deliver an address
which he has already prepared.
Leaving Chaumont late on Christ
mas day the President will travel by
military train to Calais, where he will
arrive the next morning. He will
cross the channel by the shortest
route. landing at Dover and going di-
rectly to London to begin a round of
engagements and conferences which
will occupy his time until the follow
AhS AuOoooyp "hCA 1C lNdfCo ioi
Paris.
Discuss Food Problem.
Herbert c. Hoover, American ad-
ministrator, and Edward n. Hurley.
| chairman of the American shipping
board, called on President Wilson by
appointment late today. Mr.. Hoover's
visit was in connection with the great
problem Of provisioning sections of
Europe where great food shortage ex-
lists or is threatened as the result of
the overrunning of the country by
German troops or by exhaustion or the
inability OF the Inhabitants to find
labor to till tho soil.
Suggestions that relief work in these
sections be placed in the hands of an
international committee have come
from some entente but it now seems
assured that the original plans Of the
administration in the matter will be
adhered to. 1t is probable that the
work will be left to one head in the
interest Of rapidity of action and eff
cheney. This head, it seems certain
will be Mr.. Hoover, who has prepared
tentative plans for the extension of
the machinery he has already created
for the relief of devastated portions OF
Belgium and France.
Mr.. Hurley talked with Mr.. Wilson
on shipping subjects. One feature OF
the problem under consideration is
the application of the French govern
ment for permission to rehabilitate
its merchant marine through the use
OF great American shipbuilding plants
which were developed to meet war
needs. The French government has
already. through Captain Andre Tar
dieu, when he was French high com
missioner to the United States, re-
minded Mr.. Wilson that France was
compelled in the common interest OF
the entente to completely suspend the
construction of merchant ships.
France Without Ships.
M. Tardieu at that time told the
president that France could not even
undertake to replace ships destroyed
by German and Austrian submarines
il she turned her great shipbuildina
plants into munition factories to sup
ply the entente armies with artillery
ammunition. He explained that the
end of the war, therefore. would find
France almost without ships and de
pendent upon foreign bottoms for ton
mage if her appeal for aid was unheed-
ed. Due consideration is being given
this claim but it is understood the
chairman of the shipping board is dis
posed to withhold American shipbuild
ing facilities from all foreign custom
ers until the final peace treaty Is
signed. Mr.. Hurley intended to re
turn Immediately to America but has
changed his plans and because there
ia proba that these subjects
will soon become matter Of negotia
tions has decided to remain in France
indefinitely.
PREPARE FOR RECEPTION
LONDON, Dec. "A large force o.
workmen is arranging the Guild Hal
for the reception of President Wilson