Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-07
Offers Draft Bill
to Recruit ". G. p.
Continued from Page One


every hand wave of patriotism unrlyaled
since Spanish american war days, is sweep
ing the city.
The battleshlp North Dakota, with six
months supplies and ammunition on board.
today was reported ordered into the
Delaware River from its position in the
back channel at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard
This with the opening of an employment
office at League Island was the chief de-
Velopment at the naval base up to noon.
The opening of the employment bureau was
a step in increased preparations to enlarge
the working force of machinists and
carpenters. who are whipping the fighting
potentiality of the warships into shape BY
Saturday or Monday, it is expected by naval
authorities, enough workmen will have been
obtained to allow continuous work in three
eight-hour shifts.
There was "A rush for the jobs that are
offered at the navy yard BY twos and
threes workmen filed into the office at the
gate and with very few exceptions were
employed The former rigid requirements
were lessened by Naval Constructor Snow
in view of the pressing need for skilled and
unskilled labor, All men with applica-
tions who were eligible were sent for and
were asked to bring friends who were
eligible for work
The torpedoboat destroyer Ammcn will
go into drydock today for repairs that viii
mission until February II. The North
Dakota. reported unable to maneuvcr back.
ward, is in excellent shape, il was stated
authoritatively
A visitor, believed to he from the German
! Embassy at Washington, arrived at the
navy yard today from Broad Street Sta
tion, and after a parey with the marines
on guard, was driven in his taXicab direct
to the interned German raiders Prnz Eite
Friedrich and kronprinz Wilhelm. Speak
! ing with a German accent he showed pass
| that admitted him under guard by two
marines The visitor carried n brief case.
The State police, commanded by Major
| John c. Groome of Philadelphia, are CO.
| operating with the local police and private
| guards OF big munition plants throughout
| Pennsylvania to protect these works The
four troops, each fifty-hve strong in addi-
tion to officers, are scattered in the State,
| with headquarters at Wyoming. near
| Wilkes Barre; Pottsville, Butler and
GreenSburg
1.-The State police are prepared for every
emergency" said Major Groome- our
| work now is n general surveillance of
| territory where the men are acquainted,
| our theory being that more can be accom-.
| plished by scattering the forces than by
concentrating them in one or several
| places
| 1t was reported in maritime circles to-
| day that the German crews of tho Hamburg
| American liners Prinz Oskar and Rhaetia,
| moored at the Christian street wharf. had
| dsmantled the engines so that it would
| require months to repair them The re-
| port could not be verified, as no one was
! allowed on board the ships.
| The crews are at liberty to damage the
! engines. according TO Collector Of the Port
| Berry, because the ships are private prop
| erty in charge of the crews. He added that
| his authority did not go further than keep
| ing the vessels under observation to prevent
| their being blown up or sunk in the harbor
| contrary to law For that reason the GUS
| toms guards stationed on the pier made no
| move to investigate the truth of the report
| William j. Cfothier has announced that
| the men who served at Plattsburg last sum
| mer will receive notice within the next few
| DAYS as to how they can serve the Govern
ment in case war is declared.
Boy Scout officials in this city also have
announced that 1900 scouts could be mo
bilized here for duty within a few hours
| These would not bear arms, but could be
very useful in Red Cross hospital and other
work. il was said,
A big mass-meeting intended as dem
| onstration of PhiadelPhia's patriotism and
| as n pointed warning to any who are dis
LOYAL is being planned in this city, The
| Chamber of Commerce will name Council
| Of Defense" of fifteen representative man
| ufacturers who will give all necessary CO.
| operation to the Government
| 1t is planned to hold the mass-meeting
| either in the Academy of Music or In the
Metropolitan Opera House.