The sun., 1917-02-05
5000 GUARD
KEYS TO CITY
First and Tenth Infantry
Patrol Watershed, Dam
and Aqueduct.

Gov. Whitman informed THE SUN last
midnight that he had personally directed
a partial mobilization Of the National
Guard. and that he was satisfied that
the water supply Of the city is absolutely
protected and that the East River
bridges. keys to the navy yard. are safe
from the schemes of plotters.
The Governor was worn out from
many hours Of conferences with civil and
military heads. He had not slept for
twenty-four hours. Not since the first
days Of the Rosenthal-Becker case had
cation to detail. But after seeing in
person that every possible measure had
been taken to anticipate trouble and to
discourage troublemakers he was in a
confident frame OF mind. He outlined
the situation as regards the National
Guard.
THE measures taken have all been a
part OF that ounce OF prevention which
is worth pound of cure" he said. Il
mean just this--that We have desired to
show and have shown that the State OF
New York and the city OF New York are
prepared to deal with any form OF dis
loyalty and treachery, to deal with it
swiftly and completely. We have no in
formation of plots. but we purpose to
discourage plotters.
Entire Guard Not Called.
1T has not yet been necessary 10
mobilize the entire guard and 1t may not
be. That eventually waits upon events.
upon the action OF our President. who
has the devoted support of every loyal
citizen. What l have done as the Gov
ernor OF this state is to see to It at once
that the Ashokan dam. the aqueduct and
the whole water supply system is thor
oughly sentinelled, and to see to it that
the bridges are protected from any
danger.
After receiving a memorandum from
Mayor Mitchell and after consulting
Mator-Gen. Organ. commanding the
New York division; Adjutant-Gen.
Stotesbury and other officials. thought
II wise to order into active service two
regiments Of infantry. the First and the
Tenth. whose business 1t will be to patrol
the water supply system. and to direct
that the Naval Militia go on guard over
the bridges Of the East River. The men
OF the First and Tenth regiments are
proceeding from their upstate armories
10 assigned positions in the watersheds.
The naval militiamen are already on
armed guard over the bridges.
These are simply precautionary meas
ures dictated by ordinary common sense.
The vital need OF the city Is its water
supply. The protection OF the bridges
means uninterrupted access to the navy
yard. or course. other incidental meas
ures have been taken for the protection
of arsenals, public utilities and means
Of communication. 1t would not be
proper for me or any other Official to
give specific details. The public may
rest assured that State and municipal Of
ficers are working in prefect understand
ing and with more preparedness than
some, perhaps. may have thought ex-
isted."
Three Thousand on Duty.
For the present at least talthough sub
marine violence followed by direct war
measures may change the situation at
any hour) only about 5000 men OF the
National Guard are I'm active service, on
police work I'm the watersheds up state
and at the bridges here In this city. or
these 2,4O0 are infantrymen of the two
regiments called out and 500 are naval
militiamen, Major-Gen. Organ is In
personal direction OF the infantrymen
and Commodore Robert Forshew directs
the militia sailors. Gen, ORyan left the
National Guard headquarters In the Mu-
nicipal Building last evening to make an
inspection Of the guard stations along the
water supply system. Commondore For
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