News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-03-28
WILSON ORDERS
NAVY Modified
President Directs That Enlisted
Personnel Be Increased to
$4,000 Men.
NEW ARMY DEPARTMENTS
REQ ganization of Departments Aims
at Speedy Enlistment and Mobiiza-
tion-War Office Takes All Steps
for Immediate Movements.

shington-FOurteen regiments,
| of militia from 10 Eastern states and
| the District of Columbia were called
into the Federal service by President
Wilson under orders to guard and pro-
tect the vital points Of the nation
from attack from without and from
| possible disloyalty within. The au-
thorized strength of the organizations
called out is more than $4,000 men.
President Wilson, by executive or.
ders, increased the authorized enlist
ment strength of the navy to $1,000
men, The executive order was made
public by Secretary Of the Navy Dan
iels, with 4 plea for patriotic aid in
increasing navy enlistment. The or
der, issued under authority Of the
naval appropriation act of the present
year, would add 10000 bluejackets to
the enlisted personnel
Under the personal direction of
President Wilson. the War Depart
ment also the military authorities
cleared the way for the organization
Of an army of millions OF men imme-
diately upon action by Congress. A
sweeping general order issued by
Chief of Staff Maior-Gen Hugh L.
Scott, reorganized the entire depart
mental framework throughout the
country to facilitate the centraliza-
ton of commands"
The army Reorganization scheme
ordered establishes six instead Of four
great military departments through
out the country, with general army
officer In command OF each depart
ment. The order is effective May 1,
but it was said the department would
move at once to make the necessary
changes. The new departments will
be the Northeastern, comprising the
New England states, and the South
eastern. comprising southern Atlantic
and east Gulf states.
Under the reorganization plan or
dered into operation the War Depart
ment will be able to speedily enlist
and mobilize an army OF millions
through the extension of the skeleton
move will be made toward augmenting
the military force, however, until Con-.
gress has spoken in the international
crisis.
By the time Congress is ready to
act. the War Department proposes to
have every preliminary step taken,
and to be ready for immediate and
aggressive military movements.
The National Guard organizations
called out in the neighborhood of their
home cities will be assigned the
guarding munition plant bridges and
railroad communications, an strategic
military points, and, in general, all
public property from violence that
may follow a declaration of war or
a state of war.
The new army departments will be
known as the Eastern, which includes
New York and from which Gen. Wood
has been transferred; the Northeast
ern, the Southwestern, Central, the
Southern and the Western Gen.
Wood will go to the command of the
Department, and his
place at Governors Island will be TAX
en- by Major Gen. J. Franklin Bell, now
the Western Department.
Major-Gen. Hunter Liggett is trans
ferred from the Philippines to the
Western Department, and Brig.-Gen.
R. Edwards from the Canal
Zone to the Northeastern Department.
Maior-Gen. Barry of the Central De-
partment and Major-Gen. Pershing of
the Southern Department remain in
their commands.