The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-28
New York's Home Defenders

Henry Farrand Griffin, in Leslie's
 Soon after the European war began and long before there was any imme- diate prospect of this countrys becom- ing involved. Mayor Mitchell and his police commissioner, Arthur Woods be- gan to think ahead They knew that the mobilization of national guard regi- ments would leave the New York police force without the second line of defense upon which it normally depends for as- sistance in quelling riots and maintain- Ing order. At the same time the activity of German secret agents, the explosions In munftion plants and incendiary fires along the docks gave promise of still greater trouble in the event of war with Germany. New York's big alien popu- lation, living in congested tenement dis trlcts still further complicated the prob lem of maintaining law and order in any great emergency. The possibility that the regular police force of Il, 600 men might prove insufficient was clearly evil dent. Mayor Mitchell and Commissioner Woods, therefore, proceeded to lay their plans for a new second line of defense that would take the place Of the mi litia- If the national guard regiments should be called into the national serv- ice.
 The result was the Homo Defense league. a volunteer organization of 20,- 900 citizens of New York, serving with out pay and subject to the police de- partment's instant orders at all times. It is characteristic of Mayor Mitchell that he insists on giving chief credit for the success of the plan to Commissioner Woods.
 This Is how 1t works: For weeks be- fore the actual declaration of war with Germany, New York was alive with wild rumors Of impending trouble. Every where you heard stories of spies and conspiracies, German reservists organiz- ing, plots to blow up bridges railroad stations power plants and waterworks. And to some of these rumors there was a foundation of fact as the federal se- cret service knows But the New York police department was not worrying It was prepared When word flashed over the wires that Congress had declared war the chief inspector of the police de- partment signed an order and touched a. button. In less than minute 200 emergency orders, long since prepared, automatically went into effect in s2 po- lice stations of New York. Within 8 few hours two home defense guards were ready to replace every regular police man on patrol duty. Tho 1,0O0 regular police were mobilized in regiments, equipped for service wherever needed. They had machine guns and they knew how to use them. They had tents, pro- visions, ambulances, doctors and nurses ready for any emergency. They were prepared to maintain communication by wireless or flag, wigwagging from sky scrapers. if the regular police telephone and telegraph system should be inter- rupted. Motor trucks were ready to rush reserves wherever needed. Every i'm portant bridge, railroad station, power plant, subway station, dock, viaduct. aqueduct. etc.. was instantly placed un- der guard. A big fleet of motorboats armed with machine and rapid fire guns, manned by regular police and home de- fense volunteers, patrolled the harbor. Hundreds of specially equipped tugs were ready to extinguish fires along the river front.
 Nothing happened Nothing could hap pen. If German spies or hostile aliens were planning to ifake trouble they never had the slightest chance even to start. The 31.000 police and homo de- fense volunteers were too numerous ana too actively on the iob