Evening star., 1917-03-20

Just issued to postmasters to dispatch
an mail for Australia exclusively by
,he Paci1c route. unless specifically ad-
dressed for dispatch via some other
Engines for the "chasers" to be turn
ed out by the New York yard will be
oousht from private manufacturers in
time to have them installed prompt
~ upon completion of the hulls.
large number Of privately owned
motor craft available for navy uses also
may De drawn upon at any time. Re-
tired naval officers have been at work
LOT month along the entire Atlantic
coast surveying boats. Contracts have
been made for their purchase and .
Geographic order will make them gov
ernment property over night.
volunteer crews for the boats have
been enrolled among yachtsmen and
others along the coasts. Commanders
OF naval districts are ready to call them
out and begin patrol work with vir-
tually no delay.
Navy officials estimate that within
-FOUR months a fleet Of 1000 patrols and
chasers will be ready for action. 1t is
planned to assemble the volunteers
within a few days to begin actual oper-
atoms as matter of training, pending
orders from the President for complete
mobilization of the navy.
To Make Coasts U-Boat Proof.
Officials say it is planned to establish
submarine-proof patrol Off the Ameri-
can coast. insuring safe passage to and
from American ports for all ships. Since
the visit of the German submarine
C-53 to Newport last summer made 1t
clear that the underwater craft could
operate across the Atlantic IT has been
believed necessary to provide for pro-
lection of American harbors in the
event of war
Informal negotiations will be started
for a working agreement with the
British and French patrol squadrons
now endeavoring to protect ships pass
ing through the German submarine
zone. 1t is planned to make American
waters safe against submarines for all
ships with the understanding that
American ships will receive full protec-
tion in the zones patrolled by the allies.
The enlisted personnel of the navy
is being recruited rapidly at present, a
total of $4,000 men being reported to-
day. Congress has authorized a total
strength of $4,000 and given the Presi-
dent authority to increase that to
$1,000 in emergency.
In the event of complete mobilization
three steps would be taken: Retired
officers would be summoned to duty at
wards and other shore stations. reliev-
ing active officers on sea duty; the
fleet reserve, now about 1900 strong
in highly trained men. would be called
to the colors. and the naval militia,
about 10000 strong, would be called
out.
With these men available. it is esti-
mated that every ship of military value,
including all reserve battlecraft, cruis-
ers and destroyers, could be made ready
at once for action. Each reserve ship
now has a skeleton crew aboard in
cluding the skilled men of the engine
room and gunnery divisions.
These estimates, however, do not con-
template finding crews for the great
numbers of scout patrol craft. Presum-
ably the young officers to be graduated
this month will be used either to com
mand these vessels or to relieve more
experienced junior officers from battle
ship duty for that purpose.
Probably many Of the patrols will be
commanded by warrant or petty off,
GERS of the navy or by yachtsmen or
merchant marine officers who may
volunteer for service. Their crews also
probably would be made up largely Of
volunteers with enough trained men to
teach the others to handle the guns.
War Department Also Active.
On the surface, the War Department
is taking no steps toward making ready
for war The facts are. however, that
very complete plans for rehabilitation
of the guard have been prepared, and
that provision has been made to ee-
cure promptly enough additional Off
GERS to organize force of 100000
No move to call out such an army
can be made. however, without con-
sressional authorization.
Recruiting for the regular army is
still making good progress. Reports
given out today show that thirteen
districts obtained more men during
February than they were. required TO
enlist to fill their quota fixed by the
department
The reports show that total of
Sc. recruits have been obtained through
provided in the ma
tional defense act. since instructions
vent out The department is gradually
getting this new feature of recruiting
in working order and expects big 70.
suits in the near future.