The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-21
CABINET IN WAR SESSION.:
ASKS CALL FOR CONGRESS-:
ACTION EXPECTED TODAY
U.S.DESTROYERS
MAYGOABROAD
FlOtilla to Fight U-BOats. Cen
eral Board Idea-TO Mo-
bilize Navy.

WAsHINGToN. March 20.-An immedi-
Ate plan for the United States navy to
assist the war operations Of the En-
tente was outlined to Secretary Daniels
this evening by the General Board i'm
mediately after the Cabinet meeting.
The view held by the strategists COM
prising this board is that the navy has
twofold mission at the very outset Of
hostilities. One is to safeguard the
American coast and keep steamship
lanes free from German submarine men,
ace or from raiders, and the other is to
supply at once small craft to assist En-
tente vessels in the war zone
The naval strategists are unanimous
III the view that the United States navy
should do It's share and not confine its
operations to defensive measures. The
immediate problem which should be con-
sidered, it is held. is the question OF as
sisting the Entente--particularly Great
Britain-in getting food and supplies
from this country.
10 furnish this assistance. the Ameri-
can navy should at once add to the
number of small craft being used in the
barred zone against German submarines.
The more of these vessels available the
more difficult will 1t become for the
C-boats to continue their announced
starvation campaign against Great Brit
ain. Despite the great number of En-
tente craft engaged In this duty there
is still shortage OF ships owing to the
scope OF the C-boat campaign and the
difhculties in running the subma rines to
cover.
May Send DestrOyers Over.
Two members OF the General Board
favor the sending of a fiotilia OF Ameri-
cap destroyers to the war zone as an
initial measure. The idea is not op-
posed, SO far as can be learned. by any
OF the other members, though there is a
tendency among some to desire a COM
pleted plan of operations before making
the frst move. With reference TO coast
defence plans the General Board is
unanimous in making the following
recommendations:
First-Immediate mobilization Of
the United States navy.
Second-Temporary dsbandment Of
the War College in order that these
expert officers may assume the i'm
portant duties Of actual, instead OF
theoretical. war
Third--Call OF the Naval Militia
and Reserves to duty
Fourth--lmmediate measures TO All
the shortage OF 10000 men which ex-
lists in the enlisted personnel
Secretary Daniels learned that certain
figures he had been relying upon with
respect TO personnel we're not accurate
He understood. for example, that he
could obtain 10000 men by calling out
the Naval Militia and Reserves. hut
learned there were only 5000 available
and that only 1000 OF these were en-
rolled as national volunteers"
Faces 10000 Shortage.
The Secretary also learned that the
taking over OF merchant vessels by the
navy would be great drain on the
enlisted personnel and that something
should be done TO correct the 10000
shortage. The revised figures before the
board show that there were 2.Os5 en-
listments last month and $500 already
this month. The board realizes that
there has been boom in recruiting but
1t was brought to Mr.. Daniels's a'ten-
ton that the shortage had been $4,000.
so further speeding up would be neces-
sary.
There is reason to believe tonight
that Mr.. Daniels will order mobiliza-
tiou without further delay. The argu-
ments Of Admiral Benson. president Of
the General Board, and the other off,
GERS have made an impression on him,
IL IL explained. and no; only the unani-
nous verdict of the naval service il for
Immediate mobilization but tn. senti-
ment In Congressional and other circles
is empna sizing the immediate need OF
this step.
Admiral Benson. Il developed. has
drawn I'M an effective plan To safeguard
the coast II consists in dividing the
Atlantic seahoard into naval districts
and arranging for the detail of neces-
sary naval forces to each district. The
plan was drawn after n months work
by Admiral Benson and members OF the
board.