The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-07

with tenders of ala. The bureau OF
navigation has completed a list OF al
such vessels owned on the east ana
west coasts and on the Great Lakes
They can now be Impressed into ser
vice as soon as the emergency for their
use arises.
The fleets of ships in the various
branches of the department OF com
merce Will be requisitioned by the
navy department when conditions de-
mand In this group of vessels are
high power motor boats, used in In
specton work. that would prove or
value as submarine chasers.
Eight vessels used by the coast and
reodet!c survey for soundngs and ex-
ploration work would be used as mine
sweepers. Forty seven boats OF the
lighthouse bureau would be especial
ly adapted TO mine laying. Seventy
seven other vessels of light draft and
Of possible value in war are distrio-
uted among other bureaus of the de-
partment
Manufacturers Patriotic.
Offers OF industrial plant owners to
turn their works over to the govern
ment continued to pour into the navy
department. One OF the next big pre-
paredness steps will be to enlist in
the naval reserve the heads of all
large munitions and shtpbuilding
works.
Many of the more important plants
have been rendered to the govern
ment for use II needed. 1t is planned
to enroll in the reserve the admins
trative and executive heads of such
establishments. Their proper places
in war time it is explained. will be
In control of their plants and not with
the military forces Very soon II Is
proba BILE the directing forces Of such
establishments will take the oath
binding them to service In time Of
war.
one Of the important tenders OF re-
sources came today from the Buffalo
Copper and Brass Rolling mill, OF Buff
falo, y. Y. one OF the largest brass
mills In the country. The many plants
and immense resources of the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company were also
pledged TO the government I'm time %
war. OfiCials OF the company, in s.
letter To President Wilson. stated shat
the government may use the plants
in any manner Il may see IT
Financially Fit
Governor Harding. OF the federal
reserve board asserted that TIE "coun-
try at the present time Is ia 'he best
possible state OF financial prepared
ness, Governor HaFuING. IN q let
ter TO the Convention Of Commercial
Secretaries held at Gastonia y c..
urged that one OF the greatest needs
at the present time Is for the nation
to raise all the foodstuffs possible He
urged the convention TO use its In
fuence among the farmers TO prepare.
now that the planting season is at
hand. for the largest crops of all kinds
tffat Il Is possible to produce,
The navy department announced to-
night that Assistant Secretary Of Navy
Franklin K Roosevelt is huriytng
back 70 his desk on the United states
collier Neptune and is expected to
reach here Thursday. Mr.. Roosevelt
started on a tour of the Southern wa
ters. but was called back. with him
is aajor-Generai George Barnett, OF
the United States Marine corps.
Governor-Gensrai Harrison. Of the
Philippines today cabled the bureau
Of in~ular affairs a confirmation OF
press dispatches concerning the dis
ablng OF the twenty-three interned
German liners In the Philippine Is
lands. Governor Harrison said the
vessels had been extensively but not
irreparably damaged He estimated
that X would take six or seven months
70 restore the machinery wrecked BY
the German crews.