The greatest problem before the conference is stated to be the maintenance of the navy of American munitions and food supplies to Europe. This will be sought, first, by naval cooperation to fight the German submarine; second, by construction of a huge fleet of wooden merchantmen to negative, its destruction, and third, by ways and means to increase American manufacture and the allies' ability to pay for the products.
Vaval cooperation is understood to contemplate the policing of all North and South American waters by the American Navy, allowing the return of the British and French vessels engaged in that work and the safeguarding by American ships of at least part of the sea line to Europe.
The military participation of the United States also probably will be discussed in broad terms, though it is realized that this country will not attempt to send an army to Europe for the present.
The military situation of this country is well understood over other countries. There is, however, an intense desire upon the part of the general public in the entente countries to a small division of American troops at the front.
The complete reversal of American relations to the entente powers through the war is a significant step in the direction of the war.  The abandonment of neutrality in favor of war will necessitate an increase in the number of vessels engaged in the war. 