The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-20
NAVY MAY COOPERATE
WITH ALLIED FLEETS
President Wilson Met His
Cabinet This Afternoon,
and the Announcement of
Plans for the Protection of
American Ships and Lives
Is Likely to Be Made Aft
er the Conference

Washington, D. c., March 20.-Further
steps to protect American lives and
property against submarines are expect
cd to take definite form after to-day's
gress in extra session Immediately is
still among the probabilities, but there
are no indications that President Wilson
has finally decided upon it.
Without waiting for proclamation
the president is expected to issue to-
day or tomorrow that a state of war
exists between the United States and
Germany. Government officials to-day
prepared definitely for forceful action to
clear the transatlantic lanes of Ger
man submarines and to protect the coast.
Preparations for carrying out the pol,
icy of armed neutrality to the fullest
degree were being hurried in the navy
department. The possibilities of their
execution range even to active co-opera
ton at sea with the British and the
French fleets.
At a conference between the president
and Secretary of the Navy Daniels yes
terday the decision was reached to take
the following war actions:
/. Advance the graduation of first and
second classes at Annapolis Naval acad-
envy SO as to increase the number of
available officers.
2. To make use of the $4,000 900
emergency fund appropriated by Con-
gress in the naval appropriation bill to
rush the construction of naval vessels
now building and for the purchase of 200
motorboats and other submarine chasers.
3, To waive the eight-hour law in
government and private shipyards so as
to rush work on ships now under con-
struetion and rush the construction OF |
submarine chasers in large numbers.
4. Not to commander any ship yards
or materials for the presentbut to COM
mandeer either or both any time it ap-
pears necessary.
5. To use every possible means to re-
cruit the navy up to the full strength of
$1,000 men authorized by Congress.
The president and Secretary Daniels
admitted these are emergency steps and
that every other possible step is to be
taken to defend Amriean merchantmen
against the war measures now being used
by Germany against American vessels.
Secretary Daniels said it is the hope of
the department that 200 submarine chas
ers can be modified within four months.
To speed up work on the vessels now
building and to build quickly over 100
submarine chasers the navy yards are
expected to put l0.hour day into effect
and to work two shifts day.
With the Sll5,000,0O0 emergency ship
building fund at his disposal, Secretary
Daniels is expected to offer financial in
ducements to the ship builders to Justify
them rushing work on government con-
tracts in preference to doing private
work
Secretary Daniels said the president
was particularly anxious to obtain more I
officers and more men for the navy. In
order to get more officers the superin-
tendent of the naval academy was in
structed to graduate the first class on
March % and get the second class ready
for graduation in September. About $50
officers will be obtained from each class. ]
The navy has not at present sufficient |
men 10 man the 200 submarine chasers I
which are to be built just as fast as they
ran be turned out. It is likely limited
enlistments will be offered men desiring v
TO serve on these vessels and that the /
naval militia will be called out to help I
man them. o
The fact that there are quite a num- d
Der Of American ships now in European n
waters and that may meet the fate of il
the three ships sunk Sunday when they j,
attempted to return, caused considerable n
anxiety to the administration Yesterday. a
The large ships of the navy would be p
IF little use in guarding them from at
tack, il has been demonstrated. There n
fore, unless British submarine chasers o
should by some arrangement undertake il
10 guard them on their way back, thev O
will run great risk of being sunk until Il
such time as the American navy can Il
,quip submarine chasers and send them Il
,ver TO rescue the merchant ships. This h
act is chiefly responsible for the haste Il
,eing shown by the navy department to
,btsin the small submarine fighting craft
Is quickly as possible.