THE SHIP OF FOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 13

THE SHIP OF FOOLS.

FORD'S MISSION RIDICULED.

" VOYAGING "LUNATIC ASYLUM." (Special - ."Star.") NEW.YORK, December 28. \ Henry Ford's senseless peace mifißion, devoid, of. any"practical' cepgrent |the warring nations into d&eniatipnal ! friendship, has become the "greatest laughing-stj-pk America has ever known, and some anside revelations have been made by members of the party who have already returned in disgust to the United States. Robert Bastian Bermann, critic of English attached to the Ford party, who supervised the wireless messages on the Oscar IL, said at the time of the dissensions over Ford's attack on President Wilson's preparedness plans, when resolutions were prepared denouncing these defence policies, the newspaper correspondents were a6ked to sign the resolution, but declined on the ground that they were not members of the peace party. The seven excluded from the party that were mentioned in the newspaper dispatches were the publicity men employed by Mr Ford. BEER, CHOIR AND CHURCH SERVICE. Ford's staff consisted of twelve shorthand and typewriter experts, four muitrigfaph operators, 'five dictaphone operators, seven publicity men, and six messengers, according to Bermann, who said that the staff was kept busy getting out messages, which were dispatched iby wireless continuously when the operator could get in touch with a wireless station or relay through anot&ef steamer. As many as 40,000 words were sent iv one day, Bermann asserted, and he bad to read over and correct them. Ford sent a message of 600 words to each of nine rulers of belligerent nations at 50 cents (2/) a word, and the bill paid at Kirkvafl for the total wireless -i-BoUnted to 50,000 dollare, the wireless editor declared. "After we left New York on December 4" said Bermann, "all went well until December' 10-- then a meeting was held after dinner in the second-class saloon, convened by the Rev. Dr. J. Lloyd Jones, of Chicago, and the Rev. Dr. Charles Aked, of San Francisco, and Mrs Joseph Fels, as a committee of of three, to outline plans for the trip. S. S. McQure, who is a nice chap personally, but makes too much noise, took advantage of the meeting to read an advance copy of the President's message to Congress, which started all the troujble."

By this time the wrangling had become so distasteful, said Bermann, that he decided To return to the United States as soon as possible. Mme. Schwimmer took charge of the anti-Mc-Clure party, and appeared to be a very strong-willed person indeed. On Sunday, December 12, one of, the photographers rather shocked the more pious members of the party by starting a gambling game of "craps" during the church service in the saloon, and giving the choir beer, which, he declared, was done with a worthy motive to stimulate their voices! FORD'S VIEWS CHANGING. When Henry Ford arrived in New York he "was met by an army of newspaper men, and a battery of photographers, and a perfect bedlam reigned for several minutes. Ford declared his views regarding jttif, cause of the war had undergone a mailed change. Wl»en he left, he he'was of the opinion that bankers, 'manufacturers of munitions and armament were responsible, but he retu*-n£H.-**to America with the belief -that jt Was the people themselves, those now being slaughtered, who were responsab|e. > "The men doing the fighting have too content to let those them do the thinking, and they have not taken advantage of their.,-divine' right to say for themselves jiwhat they shall do and think," the £scifi<aat aaaexted. _-.-""- - -