The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-05
Army and Navy Service Take
Every Imaginable Pre-
cautionary Move.
AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS
AND ANY NEW CRISIS
Both Departments Flooded
With Offers of Assistance
of All Forms.


cautionary measure now thought ad-
vlsable already taken, the war and
navy departments awaited tonight
further developments that may call for
measures to protect American rights
ut sea by force.
So far no steps Of actual war prepa-
rations have been taken. speaking 10
a delegation of Cleveland business
men. who passed through this city to-
day and called at the war department,
Secretary Baker said:
I'VE are all between two breaths
here. We have taken one breath and
are wondering whether we will have to
draw another. We are hoping for the
best"
Secretary Baker and Secretary
Dainels were at their office during the
day. The latter conferred with Rear
Admiral Benson. chief of operations.
Later it was learned that several of the
many rumors afloat yesterday and to-
day have been Investigated and found
unfOunded.
investigate Cases.
Secretary Daniels has directed that
every incident occurring around the
navy yards be promptly investigated.
A. navy diver was at work today eX-
alnining the German ship Iiebenfels.
which sunk in Charleston harbor under
suspicious circumstances. The work of
ascertaining the actual cause OF the
sinking will be continued tomorrow
and the navy department expects full
report.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt ad-
vised the navy department that he and
Major General Barnett. commandant of
the marine corps, would hasten home in
view of the international situation
abandoning the remainder of their tour
of Haiti and Santo Domingo. They will
sail north on the collier Neptune which
should sail for American waters next
Tuesday.
Stringent Precautions.
Additional precautionary measures
were reported from Guam and also
from New Orleans. Captain Roy Smith
the governor of Guam, said that he had
made arrangements for the adequate
protection of the German gunboa1
Cormorant interned there. Reports
from New Orleans said German war.
bound steamers in that port had beer
towed into mid-stream and anchored
for the purpose Of cutting off shore
communication and also to protect thu
dock In case of fire or explosion.
Navy wireless Gensors in charge o
the various coast line stations wer'
instructed to exercise unusual pre-
cautions and to refer to the department
proper every message about which the.
had the slightest doubt. They were spe
officially warned to keep information
which might be of military value from
reaching Germany through any source
No steps toward applying genera
censorship to the cable office have We
been taken. 1t is regarded as i'm
probable that such steps will be take
unless President Wilson finds it nee
essary to again address congress seek
ing authority for warlike operation.
Governor Whitman of New York, ask
ing that navy yard employees who ar
members of the New York militia
released from duty.
The war department took no add
tional steps today either Of u pre-
cautionary or warlike nature.
Flooded With Offers.
Both the war and navy office dc
with telegraphic offers of service frol
individuals and munitions plant
throughout the country. Secretal
Baker replied personally to each of II
individual messages expressing h
qualification and stating that the al
plication had been placed on file ar
the applicant would be summoned fl
duty should the need arise.
Rear Admiral Perry announced t.
night that he would offer to Secretal
Daniels tomorrow the services Of II
National Aerial Coast Patrol commi
sion of which he is the head.
Messages from munition manufa
turers have been referred to the arm
and navy ordnance bureaus to be tai
en- advantage Of, whenever deemed d
sirable.
AT the navy department orders we
prepared today calling out many acti
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