The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-26
10000
MEN FOR NAVY:
GUARD CALLED
Order Issued to Bring Navy to Full Strength
of s7,O00---New Military Divisions
Created---Miitia Summoned.

Washington. March a5.-President
Wilson took steps today to place the
nation on a war footing.
BY executive order he directed that
the navy be recruited without DELAY to
the fun authorized war strength of
$1,000 men. Taken in connection with
emergency naval construction already
ordered, this means that the president
has exercised the fun limit of his legal
powers as commander in chief to pre-
pare the navy for war
For the army. the president direct
ed that two new military departments
be created in the Atlantic coast ere
gion. The order means that the task
of organizing whatever army changes
he may authorize may be divided
among six departmental comma nders
instead OF four ir the interests of
speed and efficiency in mobilization
The third step was to assume as a
national duty the task OF protecting
American industries from domestic
disorders In the event of hostilitics
For this purpose II fun infantry rcgi-
ments. two separate battalions and one
separate company Of national guards
were called back into the federal scrv-
ice to act as national police in i'm
portant districts. tSupplementing these
troops, n regiment of PENNSYLVANIA
ri nj t,,.
infantry en- route home from the bor-
der We're ordered retained in the fed
eral service.
To Facilitate Action.
The presidents orders were made
known in terse official statements is
sued by both departments.
No explanation accompanied them
except the statement that reorganiaa- -
tion OF the military departments cffec-
tive May I. was designed to facilitate
decentralization of command.
The navy must enroll Immediately
approximately 10000 men to reach the
required strength. Secretary Daniels
supplemented 1t tonight with personal
kilograms to newspaper editors all
over the country urging them to aid
the department in every way in their
power to obtain the men.
Division OF the United States into
six instead of the cnlisting four mill
tary departments was announced by
the war department. The two new de-
partments are the northeastern, com
prising the New England states, and
the southeastern, comprising the states
in the old south.
Major General Leonard Wood is
| transferred from command of the de-
partment o fthe east to the new south l.
eastern department; Major General j
| Franklin Bell from the western de
partment to the eastern department:
the Philippines to the western depart
ment. and Brigadior General Clarence
r. Edwards from the canal zone tc
the northeastern department. Major
General Barry of the central depart
ment and Major General Pershng ot
the southern department retain THEN
commands
The western department il TO en-.
brace the states of Washington ore.
gon, Idaho. Montana, California Ne.
vada. Utah and the territory Of Alas.
ka. Headquarters will be at Sar
Francisco.
Congress must determine the system
under which an army is to be raised
Today's action provides more elastic
machinery, found necessary as re.
suit Of the recent border mobilization
for the enrolling and training of Z
great army, whether raised as volun-
tecrs. by conscription or through /
universal service by bill.
Distributes Work.
The object OF the creation of tn,
new departments of the northeast ant
southeast was to distribute amonl
three central commanders the work o
mobilization in the states most thick
hgreatest number of soldiers mus
come.
Departmental commanders will com
pletely supervise the assembling o
state troops in their districts hereafter
The transfer of General Wood from
the eastern to the southeastern de
Ipartment caused considerable specula
ton among army officers. No explana
tion was given. The eastern depart
ment is regarded as the most impor
tant of the six. AS a general rule tina
department falls to the command o
the senior major general Of the arm
available for such duty.
General Wood is the ranking Off
Ger of his grade. General Bell, who no,
) takes command Of the eastern depart
! ment, being his immediate junior. I
iSome quarters. it was suggested tha