The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
PLANS FOR WAR
RUSHED BY US
Army and Navy Heads Lay
Outlines Of Work Be-
fore Wilson.


Aeht Wilson. preparations for war last
night went forward with renewed energy.
The President. late in the day. spent
nearly two hours at the gray building
that houses the war-making machinery
OF the government. and conferred at
length, first with Secretary of War Ba-
ker, and then with Secretary of the Navy
Daniels
The chiefs Of the war-making depart
ments made definite and detailed reports
TO the Chief Executive as to the steps
already taken toward preparedness, and
the plans now under way. Mrs. Wilson
accompanied the President to the onhces
OF the Navy and War Secretaries, ana
visited the men who are bending every
effort TO make the nation ready for i'm
pending strife.
Last night the protection Of vital
points in the United States Itself was
the big question before a large part OF
the administration machinery. The War
department, the Navy Department De-
partment Of Justice. and the Secret Serv-
ice were hard at work, making plans for
the guarding of the danger spots Of the
country in the event OF a declaration OF
war.
To Arrest SusPects
The Secret Service and the agents ~
the Department of Justice were resdv
with lists OF suspects" and spies"
who Will be arrested and interned inne-
diately upon the outbreak OF hostilItIes
Inc War Department and the Navy De-
partment redOubled their vigilance in
providing ample protection for arsenalsl
navy yards and other army and nayH
.posts In this connection the governorS
or the various States will be called on TO
furnish protection. with their militia. for
the important cities Of the country their
water supply and important bridges and
ROADS. Gov Mccall. Of Massachusetts
conferred at length with Secretary OF
War Baker on this point. and following
the conference, IL was announced that
Two regiments Of the Massachusetts Ma.
uonal Guard would be ordered on duty
10 protect the government arSenaIs tbe
Fore River ShtpbuiIding plant and othe-
strategic points in the State Militia o.
the other Ststes will be called upon for
similar duty
Last night. the spy menace caused III.
war Department 10 consider tufninC OUT
the National Guard OF the District o.
Columbia TO guard the National CAPITAL
from bomb and dynamite outrages The
important bridges across the Potomac
the Washington Navy Yard. where big
guns Tor the feet are under construc-
tion. and the great public buildings will
be protected. The Department OF Jus
tlce and the Secret Service have both
submitted to the President detailed re-
ports on the activity OF German
sympathiZers in Washington. and these
reports led yesterday to the considera-
ton OF immediate protective measures
PrC-Germans Watched.
Practically every suspected German
symp:yhizer in Washington is under
surveillance. and last night It was stated
that many Of the departments Of the
government itself have furnished the
Secret Service men tBwith suspected
names. The thousands OF government
employees include many whose sympathies
have been discovered to lie with Ger
many and every precaUtion TO prevent
mischief in Washington will be taken
Practically every German American OF
prominence in the Capital is being watch
ed and while no announcement was
made. it was learned that thorough
and complete search OF suspected resi-
dences has been under way BY Secret
Service agents for some time.
Naval I'repa redness went forward with
yigor yesterday. The Department opened
bids for the construction Of destroyers
at noon and awarded twenty-four con-
tracts within an hour. The ships. de-
signed for fighting submarines, will be
built. ten at the Union Iron Works. San
Francisco eight at the Fore River Ship
building Company and six at the Cramp
Shipbuilding plant, at Philadelphia. They
will be built for a price fixed at cost, plus
ten per cent profit. The yards agreed to
rush work on the ships as rapidly
possible. and the Departmen hopes TO
turn them out within fifteen months. 4
naval board. composed OF AdmiTals
Capps. Rousseau. Griffin and Taylor will
confer here on Tuesday TO aid the yards
in mobilizinG the material for the ships.