The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-03-29
Army Reorganized and En-
larged; Navy Increased and
All "Speeded Up"
TWO, NEW DIVISIONS MADE
Army Strength Is Now ITO, ,ooo-Move
Effected to Enlist Full Peace
Strength of 17sooo-Naval
Militia is Waiting.

Washington. = With the expected
declaration by Congress of a state of
war with Germany, President Wilson
Issued his first public military orders
for the defense of the nation.
He called into the Federal service
IL regiments, three companies and
two battalions of the National Guard
in eastern seaboard states, comprising
approximately, 10000 men, for local
policing purposes.
He recognized the army depart.
ments and in a general shake-up of
seaboard commands transferred Gen
eral Leonard Wood, recognized as the
ablest officer and tactician in the
army, from New York to Charleston,
s. c.
He increased the enlisted strength
of the navy to the legal maximum OF
$1,000 men and instructed Secretary
OF the Navy Daniels to involve emer-
gency measures to recruit the 81 900
men the navy now lacks of war
strength
He acted under the provision of the
navy laws that, 1.-The President Is
hereby authorized whenever in his
judgment sufficient national emer-
gency exists. to increase the author
lied enlisted strength of the navy to
be $1,000 men"
General Wood Transferred.
The transfer of General Wood from
wha has generally been considered
the most important section of the
eastern coast line has created a sen.
sation. BY many friends of the gen.
eral II was considered a demonstration
attributed to his unpopularity with
the administration and his habit of
speaking his mind freely and force
fully.
According to administration off,
cials, however, the transfer is pro
motion and a recognition of the mil.
itary genius of General Wood, who
Will be called upon to direct the de
tense of the Southeastern Atlantic
and Gulf coasts, which are almost
totally devoid of effective fortiflca-
tions
1t is believed $4,000 National
cGuardsmen will be placed on the
Mexican border indefinitely to rein
force the regulars. 1t is not unlike
ly that the first war movement by
Germany against the United States
will mateTialize in this quarter. Sew
erai thousand German reservists are
said to be in Mexico organizing for
an attack on the southern border of
the United States.
Recall Of Guardsmen
All the guardsmen called out
served on the border. Those who
have been mustered out of federal
service but took the oath and re-
mained in the guard will assemble
at once at state mobilization camps
and be mustered back into service
of the government Then they will
be assigned 10 the guarding of gov
ernment works. muniton factories
and other places where violence d.
rected by German agents might be
expected to crop out.
The President does not contem-
plate issuing a general call for the
National Guard until after Congress
assemblies. though developments this
week might force an anticipation OF
such action. He intends TO form an
army for general defense purposes,
but as TO the size Of the force and
the manner Of raising It he intends
TO consult Congress-
His plan now is to do all possible
TO bring the regular army up to the
peace strength of 17s,OOO men and
then, II successful i'm that effort to
raise IL 10 the war strength OF 264.-
600. The actual strength OF the army
now Is 10000 enlisted men
Naval Militia Waits.
In reply to questions Secretary
Daniels said that a call for the or
ganized naval militia will not be is.
sued for the present When this call
goes out II will bring approximately
10000 men into the service who have
had considerable training along prac-
teal lines.
The navy department IS hopeful
that sufficient number Of young
men win come forward and enlist to
make unnecessary an immediate call
for naval militia.