The Washington herald., 1917-04-01
WAR
SPEECH is READY;
NATION PREPARES
10000 TROOPS
FOR HOME DUTY
Extra Force of Militiamen
Mustered Back Into Fed
eral Service.

eral Service.
The War Department last night an
nounced that it is fully prepared to han
die the organization of a great army
Secretary of War Baker stated that
ARRANGEMENTS were complete to raise a
force of as many as President Wilson
may desire. to carry out the will Of Con-
gress in dealing with Germany. Con-
gress. it is confidently expected, will au-
thorize the placing of at least LOO. .oOC
men in the field, IL the President de-
mands that number of troops.
War plans were rushed forward with
maximum speed today. Every part of
the military and naval service hummed
with ceaseless activity. Broadening the
scope Of police protection for public
works, an additional force of ten thou
sand National Guardsmen were ordered
mustered into the Federal service for
home patrol duty. These latest War De-
rartment orders increased to nearly SC, :
600 men brought into the Federal service
within a week TO safeguard public build
ings and plants. Those ordered out to-
day were:
District of Columbia. Third Infantry;
Oklahoma, First Infantry: Louisiana
First Infantry: Texas, Second, Third and
Fourth Infantry. and the first separate
squadron OF cavalry; Arkansas, First In
fantry; Rhode Island, Second, Fifth,
Twelfth and Fifteenth Companies Of
coast artillery TO act as infantry.
Other Orders Issued.
Supplemental orders were dispatched by
the War Department for the muster out
OF the First Infantry OF New Mexico
which is not now in the Federal service.
These orders were dispatched following
momentous conference of army chief
tains at the War Department. Confer
ences lasting practically the entire day
were in progress between Secretary OF
War Baker. Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott.
chief OF staff of the army, and Col. Joseph
z. Kuhn, president of the Army War
College. Although no formal announce
ment was Forthcoming, il was believed
that thorough study was given to the de-
mands which it will be necessary to make
upon Congress to expedite military prep
arations. War officials made 1t plain
that they are ready TO raise such addi-
tional forces as emergency may require.
Significance was attached to the hasty
return TO Washington OF Representative
Julius Kahn. of California, ranking Re
publican member of the House Military
Affairs Committee, and his announce
ment that just as soon as Congress con-
venes Monday he would Immediately de-
mand universal military service, along
the lines advocated by the army general
stan.
Plan Is Drastic.
The army General Staffs plan for
universal service is much more drastic
than the form of universal military
training urged by Senator Chamber
lain. 1t calls for one year of actual
service with the army. and each citi-
zen being liable to military service
whenever needed for eight years
thereafter. The General Staff bill was
introduced during the last session OF
Congress, but was sidetracked by the
House Military Affairs Committee.
When the special session meets Re
publicans and Democrats alike are
likely to carry out the will of the ma
tion's military experts. Representative
Kann reflected the view of many OF
his colleagues In both parties when he
said:
This measure has the approval OF
our leading military men. II we dc
not follow their advice at this time, We
shalt fail to do our duty. I shall in
sist that the bill be enacted by the
House at once.
To Fill Twenty-Five Vacancies
Graduates of military colleges through
out the nation will I'LL the existing twen-
ty-five vacancies in the rank of assistant
paymaster in the navy. according to a de-
cision announced by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels last night In lieu of eX'
aminations along technical lines. the
diplomas of military COLLEGES to be desiS'
mated bv the War Department will be
accepted as establishing eligibility.
Examinations of candidates to fill Other
vacancies in the grade of assistant pay
master will be held for enlisted men anC
pay clerks on April % In the event such
examinations fail to produce the required
number OF men, an examination to which
any citizen of the United States will b.
eligible will be held under arrangements
being made by the Bureau OF Navigation
of the Navy.
Preparations went ahead speedily t.
increase recruiting in the navy. MarCl
was a banner month for naval enlist
ments. Reports compiled for Sccretar!
Daniels last night showed that 4.f4 mel
were enlisted during the month. Thi
is the greatest record in the history o
naval recruiting since spanish war days
62,68T Men In Navy.
There were 626S7 men in the nava
service last night. as compared witt
59,OS9 a month ago. By the President
recent proclamation the enlisted compile
ment was increased to 5000 men, tn
emergency strength Of the navy. Secre
tary Daniels is confident the navy sool
will be recruited to its maximum
strength. To speed enlistments, each o
the forty-eight naval recruiting district
has been assigned an emergency compile
ment
The Navy Department late yesterda,
afternoon opened bids submitted by fift,
shipbuilding concerns for the construc
ton of large number OF submarin,
chasers. No announcement was mad,
as tc the detsi'ed figures.