The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-26
Troops Will Be Assigned to
Guard MunitiOn Plants
and Bridges.
NEW DEPARTMENTS
CREATED IN ARMY
Two More Are Formed to
Promote Efficiency in
Mobilization.
INCREASE IN NAVY
TO $4,000 ORDERED
Action by Congress Await
ed Before More Steps to
Arm Are Taken.


limits OF the authority with which the
President Is invested by law in the abb
sence of a declaration of war several
steps were taken by the Administration
to-day to place the nation on war
footing.
The President directed that tho en-
listed personnel of the navy be brought
as soon as possible up to authorized
maximum strength-93.000 bluejackets,
Including 5000 apprentice seamen. This
will require the enlistment OF approxi-
mately 1900 additional men above
present strength.
Retired naval officers also have been
assigned to special active duties, but the
name Of Rear Admiral Bradley NJ.
Fiske. whose inventions have improved
the machinery of warships. !s not in
cluded. High officials of the navy arc
planning a protest in his behalf
Eleven regiments, one battalion and
one separate company OF the National
Guard In nine States and a separate bat
talon in the District OF Columbia were
called into the Federal service to dC
police duty in guarding munitions plants
anu
against the danger that may lie in the
wake Of a declaration of war.
The Secretary of War also announced
to-day the creation of two additional
army departments on the Atlantic sea
board and n readjustment of depart
mental commanders. The new depart
ments, the Northeastern and the South.
eastern--to. the latter of which Major
Gen Leonard Wood has been assigned
with headquarters at Charleston-arC
| within the territory formerly included In
/ the Department OF the East. The order
means that the task of organizing what
i ever army Congress may authorize vii
! be divided among six departmental com
manders instead Of four in the Interests
| of speed and efficiency in mobilization.
Speeds Mobilization.
Congress must determine the system
: under which an army is to be raised
To-day's action provides more elasti,
machinery. found necessary as result
| of the recent border mobilization, for the
enrolling and training OF a great army
whether raised az volunteers. by con
scription or through universal service
bill
The object of the creation OF the new
departments of the Northeast and South
east was to distribute among three cen
| tral commanders the work of mobilization
! in the States most thickly populated an
! from which the greatest number OF sol
diers must come. The present Easter
i Department directed the mobilization %
approximately so per cent. Of the l50, nht
| guardsmen sent to the border Will
! 100000 men. the maximum authorize,
strength of the National Guard calle'
out in addition to whatever volunteers
/ might be summoned. the tasl: would h'
too great for single departmental or
! gar!Zation because OF tn. Nastness OF tn,
I supply problems involved.
Instructions to National Guard officer!
/ issued more than a month ago to cover
any future mobilization showed plainly
that the War Department had learned
Its lesson and proposed to decentrallz,
Its mobilization problems as far as pos
sible. Departmental commanders viii
| supervise the assembling OF State troops
| In their districts hereafter. and vii
take over Immediately on the call foi
| Federal service the task of recruiting
| for the guard regiments through or
| ganization Of reserve battalions.
Now Awaiting Congress.
Indications tonight were that the Ad
ministration planned to await action h.
Congress before further warlike prepara,
| tions are ordered. President Wilson ha,
| authority to direct that the regular army
be brought UP to full war strength a
once and also to call out the remainder
Of the National Guard and the Nava
Militia.
In designating State troops to b,
called out 1t is apparent that the Wal
! Department has carefully surveyed tn,
, field Of private enterprises which nigh
be assailed in event OF domestic disturb
! ance. The number Of troops from eacl
| State summoned to duty bears dircc
relation to the shipyards, munitio,
plants or other industries in that stat,
which may need military protection.
In the meantime plans are being lait
for preliminary conferences between
! Administration officials and matorit,
, leaders In Congress to bring the eXecu
| tive and legislative branches of the Gov
ernment IN close touch In preparing 70
the forthcoming extraordinary session
| Representative Flood, the chairman, an,
several members of the House Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. will confer witt
Secretary Lansing tomorrow. 1t Is un
derstood that they will dis ,uss the form
! OF the resolution to be laid before tn
House to carry out the recommenda
tlons of the President. Senator Lodge
ranking minority member OF the Senat
Committee on Foreign Relations, al
ready has conferred with the Secretar!
OF State.
The party caucuses OF the members O
the new House are to be held on Frida,
and Saturday. BY that time 1t Is ex
pected the Administration policy vii
have taken definite shape and the lead
ers will be apprised of the work whicl
viii confrcPt them whom Congress meets