The Washington herald., 1917-02-07
SPEED up PLANS
TO PUT NATION
ON WAR FOOTING
Army and Navy Officials
Ready to Protect U. S. in
Case of Strife.
RADIO UNDER CONTROL
Only Citizens of United States
Permitted to Operate
Wireless Keys.
FACTORIES OFFER ALL PLANTS
Motor Boat Owners Ready to Put
Craft at Service of Authorizes
for Chasing of U-Boats.
FACTORIES OFFER ALL PLANTS

Every possible means, short of actual
war measures. has been taken In all gov
errmental channels to protect the nation
In case of hostilities. 1t is possible to
Indicate the exent of only the precautions
that have been taken, but the highest Of
hcials say they are In every way ample to
meet emergencies that may arise.
Naval and military preparations arc
going forward at top speed. Far-reach-
ing plans to bring the aeronauticaI forces
of the country Up to a war basis are
being worked out. Ample precautions
have been taken to see that the nations
radio system Is operated by men whose
loyalty to the country Is beyond the
slightest doubt,
President Wilson was urged in a COM
munication by Rear Admiral Robert E.
Peary, president of the National Aerial
Coast Patrol Committee, to increase the
aerial coast patrol by 200 to 800 per cent
Immediately. The construction OF Loco
hydro-aeroplanes was suggested as an
imperative need. The petition also urged
the training OF 2,5o0 aviators, to be fol-
lowed by the additional training of 5,ocu
annually. The plans also provided for
the creation of a separate aeronauticsl
Cabinet. Admiral Peary's petition bore
the signatures of Senator johnson. Of
Maine; Senator Sheppard, of Texas, and
Representative Kahn, OF California
General staff Preparing.
ing with all speed the drafting Of q
scheme for universal military service. The
War Department, II Is understood, is
convinced that some plan should also be
made effective without day for train
ing the country's young men. The scope
OF the military service plan which the
General Staff has under consideration is
held secret, except to say that 1t IL q
momentors step toward preparedI ,ss.
The General Staff's ideas are to be IN
corporated in bill to be sent to Con-
Gress after 1t has been indorsed by the
President.
Greatest caution has been exercised
in placing all wireless stations in the
country on n proper footing. Naval au-
thorities in charge of private radio sta
tions were Instructed yesterday to allow
only such men as are implicitly trusted
to sit at the keys.
Under these In tructions a radical
change was made in the operating force
at the Tuckerton station, 1t was officially
stated Heretofore part Of the work at
the station has been done by civilian
empfOyeS OF lnc Ocriudu Coihpdhy 0hdoA
supervision Of navy censors and with
a few navy radio operators actually at
work Only American citizens will be
accepted as operators under the new
orders
The radio orders apply to all plants In
the United States and directions are given
that all aliens must be kept away from
the plants. Navy consors who have been
serving at the plants to protect neu-
trality regulations, now are exercising
military censorship. They have SPECIFIC
instructions not to pass news that might
be of military value to an enemy OF the
United States.
War Orders Placed.
The War Department yesterday placed
additional orders for vast supplies OF am
munitfon, and orders were issued oy Brig.
Gen. Crozier, chief of the Bureau OF
Ordnance, that the shipments be made
with all possible haste. The contracts
for regular supplies were: Western Cart
ridge Company, Alton, H., $1,000, 90
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.