Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-05
NAVY YARDS GO ON
NEAR WAR FOOTING
Guards Doubled and Other
Precautions Taken to Pre-
serve Order Everywhere.
SHIPS UNDER STRICT RULE

New York, Feb. Activities that
brought to mind the days preceding
the war with Spain everywhere were
evident in and about Hampton Roads
today
At Fort Wool additional artil-
lerymen from Fort Monroe were on
duty for the first time in years. Or
ders came last night to increase the
force OF gunners and to bar all strang-
ers from Fort Wool as well as from
Fort Monroe and other government
reservations. In addition the govern
ment wharves and doks were under
constant patrol.
The coast guard cutter Yamacraw,
the battleship Arkansas and squad
ron of artillerymen are doing neu-
trality duty in Hampton Roads, COL
lcctor of Customs Hamilton has or
dered a close watch be kept on the
German steamer Arcadia and the
Austrian steamer Budapest, tied up
here since the beginning OF the war.
Other artillery men were guarding the
German prize ship Appam, seized yes
terday by federal authorities. Lieu
tenant Hans Berg, who brought the
Appam into port with his crew OF
twenty-seven men were under guard
OF immigration officials.
Extra watchmen were on duty at
the Newport News SHY yards, where
the superdreadnought Mississippi is
being completed
War Footing at Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Feb. 4-The Phila-
dclphia navy yard virtually was on a
war footing today. while extraordi-
nary precautionary measures were
taken to guard the ports shipping,
munition plants and the arsenals. The
usual guard was on duty at the mint.
The $50 officers and men removed
from the German auxiliary cruisers
Kron Prinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel
Friedrich, by order Of the Navy de-
partment, were quartered in build
ing in the isolation section of the
yard United States marines were
stationed on board the German
cruiser, which it was reported were
found in good condition. The navy
yard was closed to all visitors.
Destroyer in Bad Shape.
Despite the refusal OF responsible
officers at the nay yard to discuss the
attempt to sink the torpedo boat
Jacob Jones, it became known early
today that the Jones was in such dis
tress that the pilot boat Philadelphia
had to go to its assistance. while it
was anchored off the Delaware break
water to enforce neutrality regula-
tons. The attempt to sink the de-
stroyer, it was said, was made while
it was on its way from Boston to
this port.
A special police guard is stationed
outside the Midvale Steel plant, which
is working night and day on large
munnion contracts for the govern
ment.
Masters of both American and for
eign steamers are putting to sea from
this port with cargoes for the pro-
hibited area, ragrdless of the tense
situation.
Guard at Training Station.
Chicago, Feb. 4.-The guard at the
Great Lake Naval training station
at Lake Bluff, thirty miles north OF
Chicago on Lake Michigan, was
doubled today. All visitors have been
barred from the government reserva-
ton. There are 1900 officers, petty
officers and apprentice seamen at the
station.
Patrol Pacific Coast.
San Diego, Cal, Feb. 4.-That the
most comprehensive patrol force on
the Pacific coast since the days Of
the war with Spain was to be in.
augurated within forty-eight hours
was reported from semi-officia
sources here today. Torpedo boat de,
stroyers, coast guard cutters and light
cruisers have received preparatory or
ders to enforce strict patrol of Pa.
cihc coast waters from Cape Flattery
TO Point Iona. Several of the yes.
sells are now moving to their stations
The destroyer Truxton is now il
Puget Sound to act as patrol off the
Straits of San Juan de Fuca; the
coast guard cutter Bear and destroy
ers Paul Jones and Whipple are or
their way to southern California
waters, the coast guard cutters Nc
Culloch and Unagla are under order.
to patrol between San Francisco ano
the Columbia river while four de
stroyers at Mare lsladn navy yarc
are being put into condition for active
duty.
1t was reported here today that tht
American gunboat Annapolis woulc
cooperate with the British auxiliar,
cruiser Aainbow in patrolling tn,
Gulf of California.
The Rainbow is keeping watcf
over feet of eleven German mer
chant vessels informed at SAINT;
Rosalia.