The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-26
Washington Instructs Army and
Navy to Hurry All.
Every State Is Assigned to
Headquarters for Work.
HOME DEFENSE TO GUARDS
Watch Bridges, Waterways, Ar
SenaIs and Federal Plants.
Kansas Under Central Section,
Chicago as a Head.

Washington. March 26-Orders to
make ready and effective all of the
man power of the national in the event
of a declaration of war between the
United States and Germany were is
sued by the war department today
Under the personal direction of Presi-
dent Wilson, the military authorities
cleared the way for the organization
of an army of millions of men imme-
diately by action by congress when il
meets in extraordinary war session
next week. A sweeping, general order,
issued by Chief of Staff Major Hugh
l.. Scott, reorganized the entire de-
partmental frame work turnout the
country to facilitate the centraliZa-
ton of commands:
Under the reorganization plan the
war department will be able to speed
lily enlist and mobilize an army of
millions thru the extension of the
skeleton organization now in the serv-
ice. No move will be made toward
augmenting the military 70, ce, how
ever, until congress has spoken in the
international crisis. If the congress
declares the existence of a state of
war, however, the war department
will be ready to start enlistment at
once. a call for volunteers, or legis-
lation authorizing some form of COM
pulsory military training would bring
to the newly organized headquarters
turnout the country, the men needed
to uphold the nations honor.
Meanwhile the administration will
rely upon the national guard for home
defense and turnout the country the
militia under today's orders will be
available for guarding bridges, water
ways arSenalS and other government
plants, and munitions factories which
will be essential to the army in time of
war. By the time congress is ready to
act, the war department proposes to
have every preliminary step taken and
to be ready for immediate and agrees
SiVe military movements.
The army reorganization scheme or
dered today, establishes six instead of
four great military departments thru
out the country, with a general army
officer in command in each depart
ment The order is effective May 1,
but it was said tonight that the de-
partment would move at once to make
the necessary changes.
Major General Leonard Wood will
take over the command of the new
southeastern department, comprising
the southern Atlantic and east gulf
coast states at which the war depart
ment looks upon as PROBABLY the point
of the greatest strategic Importance
at this time because of conditions in
the Caribbean and because of the fact
that these states lie nearest to the
Panama zone. Maj. General Franklin
Bell will take the new eastern depart
ment and Brigadier General Clarence
r. Edwards will resign the command
of the Panama canal zone to Brigadier
General Edward II. Plummer General
Edwards assuming command of the
new northeastern department in New
England. The order reorganizing the
service as issued today read: ITO
facilitate the Capitalization of COM
mands the United States is divided in
to six military departments in place
of the four now existing
The New Organization by States.
The new organization becomes eff
fective May 1, 1917, and comprises the
following:
The Northeastern Department-to
embrace the states of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island and Connecticut, head
quarters in Boston.
THE Eastern department-To en-
brace the states of New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia, District
Of Columbia, the canal zone and the
Island of Porto Rice with the islands
and keys adjacent thereto, headquar-
tiers at Governors Island, New York.
1.-THE Southeastern department-To
embrace the states of Tennessee, North
Carolina, South Caro1iLa, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, to-
gether with the coast defcnses of New
Galveston, headquarters at Charleston.
5. C.
THE Central department-To en-
brace the states OF Kentucky Ohio,
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Da-
kota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Ne
braska, Wyoming and Colorado, head
quarters at Chicago.
The Southern department-To en-
brace the states Of louisiana except
loft Of hvIo
Texas except the coast defenses of
Galveston, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New
Mexico and Arizona, headquarters at
Fort Sam Houston and San Antonio,
Texas.
The Western department-To en-
brace the states of Washington, Ore
gon, Idaho, Montana, California, Ne
vada Utah and the territory of Alaska,
headquarters at San Francisco.
Major General Leonard Wood will
ment.
Major General Franklin Bell Will
command the Eastern department.
Major General Hunter Liggett will
command the Western department.
"Brigadier General Clarence r. Ed
wards will command the Northeastern
department
''Brigadier General Edward Plum
mer will command the troops in the
Panama zone.
"Other department commanders will
remain as at present.
Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff
The military organizations called in
to the federal service today will be
detailed to service in the neighbour
hood of their home cities, and their
muster into the national service was
designed merely to centralize control
of the forces. The militia will be- as
signed to guard all threatened points,
where crank violence, or conspiracies
by German sympathizers might jeop-
ardize important military posts, sup
plies, or means of communication.
COLLEGE FOITNDER DEAD