The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-10
REAL WAR MEASURES
GO SWIFTLY FORWARD


make ready for actual host:lit!es with
Germany went forward swiftly today
at the war and navy departments ana
President Wilson issued statement
urging the prompt enactment OF the
general staff's army plans, to Dt
taken ND tomorrow by the house miil-
tary committee
Complete mobilization Of the navy
was ordered by Secretary Daniels I'M
mediately after the cabinet meeting.
The naval militia and naval reserves.
, totaling nearly 10000 men. will join
! the colors within two or three days.
Every preliminary arrangement had
been, made.
Mobilization means the immediate
organization of the coast patrol ser
vice and the taking over Of the swift
privately owned motor craft already
enrolled. Volunteer crews for these
boats will be called out also. While
the men were assembling telegraph
orders to contractors in all parts OF
the country were on the wires provld-
ING supplies Of every kind that
will be necessary. The messages
were ready for instant dispatch When
Secretary Daniels gave the word.
Under the call for the reserves re-
tired naval officers are starting to
posts previously selected for them To
relieve every active officer now on
shore duty whose services can be
spared. The active men will go to the
fleets. active and reserve, and to mer-
chant craft already surveyed and list
ed and to be drafted into federal ser
vice.
Waiting for Congress.
In the war department furtner
moves toward mastering a great army
await action by congress. Every pre-
liminary step already has been taken,
however. to carry out the project or
raising and training a million men III
a year and supplying them with 1ult
war equipment.
In his statement the president for
mally set himself on record as sup
porting the genreal staff plans for the
army in every detail, including the
provision for selective draft to oo-
tain men.
The presidents statement follows:
THE principle embodied in the leg
dslation presented by the war depart
ment to the military committees OF
the senate and house have my entire
approval, and it's specific recon-
mendations embody the best judgment
of the officers of the war depart
ment.
lit proposes to raise the forces
necessary to meet the present emers-
ency by bringing the regular army
and the National Guard to war
strength and by adding the aodltlonal
forces which may now be needed, So
that the national army will comprise
three elements-the regular army.
the National Guard and the socalleo
additional forces, of which hrst
100000 are to be authorized 1mmedi-
atelv and later increments OF the
same size as they may be needed.
in order that all these forces may
comprise a single army, the terms OF
enlistment in the three is equallzed
and will be for the period OF the
emergency.
1.-The necessary men will be secured
for the regular army and the National
Guard by volunteering, as at present
until. in the judgment Of the pres1-
dent, a resort to selective draft IS
desirable. The additional forces
however. are to be raised by selec-
tive draft from men ranging IN age
from 19 to % years. The quota of
the several States in all these forces
will be in proportions to their popu-
1ation.
This legislation makes no attempt
TO. solve the question Of permanent
military policy for the country
CHIEFLY for the reason that in these
anxious and disordered times a clear
view can not be had either or our
permanent military necessities or OF
the best mode of organizing a proper
military peace establishment. Tne
hope of the world is that when the
Furopean war is over, arrangements
will have been made composing many
Of the questions which have hltherto
seemed to require the arming OF ths
nations, and that in some ordered
and just way the peace OF the Worio
may be maintained Dy SUCH CoopCio a
ton of force among the great ma
tions as may be necessary to main
tain peace and freedom throughout
the world.
when these arrangements Tor u
permanent peace are made, we can
determine our military need ana
adapt our course of military prepara-
ton to the genius of world organized
for justice and democracy.
The present bill, therefore, IS
adapted to the present situation, out
it is drawn upon such lines as Will
enable US to continue its policy or!
as much OF it as may be determined!
to be wise when the present crisis
has passed" /
Later in the day Chairman Dent of
the house military committee called
to see Secretary Baker, who will take
the staff plan and its accompanying
hNeN hn