Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-29
Great DRIVE TO
PREPARE Navy
Three Important Steps Taken
in One Day.
RECRUITS HUNTED BY AUTO


forced-Marine Corps Ordered Re-
cruited Il Full Strength of 17,400.
Great Campaign On to Raise $4,000
More Men for FIeet-Money to Aid
France Wins Favor.
Washington, Mar 27.-Three moves
were made in the navy's drive to put
Americas first line of defense" in a
state OF complete preparedness. They
were:
First-The hornet squadron" OF
small, fast patrol craft was heavily re-
inforced
SeCOnG-The marine corps was or
dered recruited to strength of 17,40O
by executive orders.
Third-The great campaign to raise
$4,000 more men for the feet and re-
lieve a threatened shortage of officers
got under way.
President Breaks Up Confab.
Late in the afternoon President Will
son went into conference with Secre-
tary of the Navy Daniels in the lat
ter's office. The Presidents arrival
broke up a conference the secretary
was holding with newspaper men.
Sorry Pm responsible for this"
laughed the President as he entered
by one door and Lieutenant Byron
McCandless, Secretary Daniels per-
sonal aide, threw open another and
shouted, This way out" to the re-
pOrters.
Immediately following the Presi-
dents visit, Counsellor Frank l.. Polk
Of the state department was called in
to conference with Secretary Daniels
They were closeted for more than
three-quarters of an hour
'The President came to give me
some confidential information" was
all Secretary Daniels would say after
the conference. State department Off
Gals refused to discuss Counsellor
Folks visit to Mr., Daniels
The navy is concentrating on a
drive for man power.
1t was declared that in order to
meet a threatened shortage of Off
GERS, men holding commissions in the
naval militia might be called out Re.
tired officers already are being recall
ed to duty.
The department is devOting every
energy toward raising the 25,t0O men
necessary to increase it's strength to
$1,000 as authorized Sunday by the
President.
After Recruits in Autos
Although no provision was made in
the last session of the last congress
for extraordinary efforts to obtain re-
cruits the department is said to have
sufficient funds on hand for such an
effort, and it is being made in all
parts Of the country. Recruiting Off
GERS are touring agricultural sections
in automobiles and men from the farm
lands are being importuned to enlist.
Aid to France Finds Great Favor.
Washington, Mar 27.-Representa-
tives Flood, Harrison and Ragsda1e,
members of the house foreign affairs
committee, discussed the international
situation with Secretary Lansing.
Espionage and censorship measures
were among the legislation for the
new congress that were considered.
During the conference Secretary
Lansing indicated that one plan to aid
the allies is to help France finance
the war and that another under con-
sideration involves the sending of a
military force to the French front.
The Presidents conclusions were not
made known definitely and it was said
he had not finally determined what to
recommend in his message to con-
gress.
Large Bond Issue Planned.
Secretary Lansing made it very
clear that the plan which probably
will be urged most will be authoriza-
ton by congress Of a large bond is
sue, whose proceeds would be devoted
to the purchase of French bonds.
What amount of bonds, whether a bill
lion dollars, more or less, Secretary
Lansing suggested, was matter with
in the province of Secretary McAdoo.