The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-16
Dispatch of Coast Artillery
Also Cause of Talk in the
National Capital
NOT SIGNIFICANT,
SAYS WHITE HOUSE.
Conference With Army and
Navy Heads Accidental---Pre-
sident Wilson Issues
Explanation

WASHINGTON, May 10" mis-
the president and all mis- official adj
visers are firmly convinced that the
issue raised by Japan over the Cali
fornia legislation will not seriously
disturb the peaceful relations between
the two governments, 1t was learned
today that the administration is quiet
ly making such precautions as would
safeguard the nation in the event OF
trouble arising out of the present
situation.
President Wilson finds IL difficult
to conceive of the Japanese situation
taking an unfortunate turn, yet APP
parentiy he feels that duty requires
him not to ignore the existence of
unexpected possibilities. Evidences
point to the conclusion that the ad-
ministration has decided that it would
bean inexcusable mistake to expose
the nation even 10 the possibility of
consequences which might arise out
of a state of unpreparedness.
Confer For an Hour.
The president accordingly. this af-
ternoon held a conference with the
officers in charge of the state, war
and navy departments. After the
close of his round of callers. and his
semiweekly talk with the corre-
spondents, Acting Secretary of State
Moore, Secretary of War Garrison and
Secretary of the Navy Daniels con-
ferred with the president for nearly
an hour. The conditions of the de-
lenses of the United States were dis
cussed. and a. tentative program for
strengthening the effectiveness OF
these defenses outlined.
Independently of this White House
gathering, but no less impressive In
its revelations of the seriousness of
the possibilities which lie in the pres
ent situation. is the fact. disclosed
today, that two companies OF the
coast artillery corps have been or
dered to Hawaii to man the coast de-
fenses there.
These two companies will sail from
San Francisco on May cath. and were
given exactly ten days notice of their
departure.
The companies to go are the .11sth
and the 143d. both of which are at
Fort Washington. Md, located on the
Potomac river, below Washington.
d, G With the utmost secrecy prep
arations are going ahead with the solo
purpose of increasing the efficiency
of the defenses of United States pos
sessions.
Going On for Two Years
In connection with the movement
of the two companies of coast artillery
it should be said that for two years
the war department has been grad
ually increasing the garrison at Ha-
wall. These increases have been
made as fast as the fortifications adj
vanced to completion.
There is no question about prep
arations being made by the. navy
along the same line as those under
the direction of the war department.
but orders have been issued that no
ships be moved in such a way as to
afford the slightest foundation for any
suspicion that the movements are in
the direction of preparations to meet
an attack.
When the house conferences were
in progress the Japanese ambassador
had already called on John BasSett
Moore, acting secretary of state. I'm
mediately after the White House con-
ference. Ambassador Chinda again
called at the state department. While
1t is quite certain that the ambas-
sador's mission was to make inquiry
as to when Governor Johnson Is to
sign the alien land bill, the signifi-
canoe of the fact that he came twice
In person to ascertain this was not
lost. On his first visit he was inform
ed by Acting Secretary Moore that the
the bill is to be signed, but that the
president might know. On his second
visit he was informed by Professor
Moore that the president had told him
he didn't know either
The ambassador was today furnish-
ed copy of the message from Cow
ernor johnson to Secretary Bryan. He
declined to make any comment on
its contents.
1t All Means Nothing.
The statement was made at the
White House that the meeting Of the
three cabinet officers in conferences
with the president had been purely
accidental 1t was denied that there
had been any change In the situation
existing between this country and
Japan.
The White House explanation OF the
conjunction of the conferences at the
White House at 3:30 This afternoon
was in substance as follows:
President Wilson has expected to-
see Secretary of State Bryan at $3.50
o'clock for a consideration OF Cow
ernor Johnson's reply to the admints-.
trations request for delay in his sign-i
ing of the California bill, and for ~
discussion of the reply which was -
be made to Ambassador Chinda's for,
NAL protest against the law. when
he learned that Mr.. Bryan would not
be in Washington today he communist
Gated with Acting Secretary MoOress
and asked that he come at the same
hour. Meanwhile Secretary OF WAE
Garrison and Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels had decided that they shoub1E
discuss the same situation from 0l&s
ferent viewpoints with the prestden4
They telephoned to the presi64nES4
.~r~.taru ~ ask for an AuHaAnSH SNx&&S