The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-13
WILSON WANTS
Modified NAVY
Full Compliments Will Be
Ordered Aboard All War
ships of United States.
BENSON ADVISES HASTE
Chief Of Operations Seeks Time
for Tests for Any
Eventuality.
BENSON ADVISES HASTE

WARRINGTON, March ls.-President
Wilson's next move in the present na-
tional emergency will be to order the
United States navy mobilized. This
means that all ships will be made ready
Tor actual war duties and that the full
compliments will be ordered aboard. Il
also means that the naval reserve will be
called out and an intensive recruiting
campaign begun.
Admiral William s. Benson, chief of
naval operations and the countrys prin-
cipal naval adviser. has recommended
that the mobilization order be issued
with the least possible delay. His opin-
lon. which is shared by naval strategists
and line officers. is that time Is an es-
sential factor in getting the navy ready
for the anticipated emergency and that
1t will be impossible to get the navy in
shape and ascertain its weaknesses until
II has been mobilzed and the practical
test applied to the plans which the va
rious bureaus have drawn Up on paper.
Secretary Daniels. who has the most i'm
plicit confidence In Admiral Bensons
judgment. probably will advise the Pres
ident Tomorrow OF the naval strate sist's
renewed insistence on the importance of
an early mobilization order.
S4O.OOO,OOO Needed at Once.
At the same time Secretary Daniels
Will consult the President concerning au-
thorlzation to spend the 5000, 900 ap-
propriated by the last Congress for use
In time OF war or national emergency.
None Of this fund can be spent without
the authority OF the President. Already
criticism is heard at the delay in secur-
ing this authority.
Mr.. Daniels has been advised that the
navy needs about s4o.Ooo.oo0 Of this
money at once. The plans for range
finder equipment OF vessels TO be used in
guarding the Atlantic coast and scores
OF other necessary plans cannot progress
further until the puvestrings are loos-
ened on this emergency fund.
Secretary Daniels to-day conferred with
representatives of eighteen shipbuilding
companies concerning the immediate con-
struction OF 100 or more speedy patrol
boats to be armed with guns and used
to defend the coast against submarines
The Elco Company OF Bayonne. " j..
has proposed TO construct patrol boats
somewhat larger than the type which
the company placed at the disposal of
the British Admiralty for operation in
the British Channel. The British boats
were eighty-fve feet long.
Mr.. Daniels In response to expert naval
advice wants the American boats about
40 feet long and armed with a heavier
type OF gun than the British craft He
Of the British Admiralty in operating
against the submarine menace with these
so-called submarine chascrs
Clash Is Expected.
The official statemen, from Secretary
Lansing concerning the arming Of Amer
lean merchantmen and the placing OF
navy gunners aboard has centred the at
tention Of the naval strategists on the
urgency OF an early mobilization order.
From the navy viewpoint the arming Of
merchantmen with navy gunners and the
sending of these vessels 10 the war zone
means the certainty Of a clash between
an armed American merchantmen and
German submarine. 1t is described
as "war" by the navy men, although they
realize that for the present II is simply
defensive war against the lawless az
sression of Germany. but the logical con-
sequences OF this action call for get
ting the navy ready for its duties with
out loss Of valuable time. There is ex-
pectation that President Wilson will, see
matters in this light after he takes the
subject up with Secretary Daniels and
learns OF the General Boards view.
The assignment OF sufficient gunners
to the merchantmen. and particularly the
detailing OF officers to command gun
crews on merchant ships. will deple'e the
already skeletonized ranks OF the navy,
The need for more men Will be para
mount a. once as a consequence. This
has been all thrashed out and
a means OF coping with the situation
has been devised. II "a regarded as GER
tain now that the Naval Academy senior
3.ass will be raduated one year earlier
20 help increase the ranks Of young off,
s>rs