The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-25
Spy Menace Such as to Make
Probable Early General Cal
For Militia
PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID
TROUBLE AT CAPITAL
Government Considering Early
Calling Out of District Militia
to Protect Public Buildings
and Bridges at Washington
BY T.. r. SARTNEIiA
international News service stan
CORRESPONDENT

torrcspondcnL)
Washington. March. Prepare
| oons Tor war are proceeding with
great vigor. The president late In
the day spent nearly two hours at
the grim gray building that houses
the war making machinery OF the gov
eminent, and conferred at length first
with Secretary of War Baker, and
then with Secretary OF the Navy DAN
| leis. The chiefs of the making
! departments made definite and de-
tailed reports to the chief executive
as to the steps already taken toward
preparedness and the plans now un-
der way Mrs. Wilson accompanied
the president TO the Offices of the navy
and war secretaries and visited the
men who are bending every effort to
make the nation ready for impending
strife
For Protection OF Vital Points.
Tonight the protection OF vital
points in the United States itself was
the big question before u large paEt
of the administration machinery
The war department. the navy de
partment. department OF Justice. and
the secret service in the treasury de-
partment were hard at work making
plans for the guarding of the danger
spots of the country in the event OF
Il declaration of war.
The secret service and the agents
of the department of justice were
ready with lists OF suspects" and
spies" who will he arrested and ia
termed Immediately upon the out
break Of hostiities. The war depart
meut and the navy department re-
doubled their vigilance in providing
ample protection for arsenals navy
yards and other army and navy posts.
In this connection, the governors
of the various states will be called on
To f,,r9 iAi, writ r. Lni.
tia for the important cities Of the
country. their water supply. and i'm
portant bridges and roads Governor
Mccall. of Massachusetts,, conferred
at length with Secretary of War Bak
err today on this point and following
the conference it was announced that
two regiments OF the Massachusetts
national guard would he ordered on
duty to protect the government ar
senaiS, the Fore River Shipbuilding
plant and other strategic points in
the state.
, Militia of the other states will be
called upon for similar duty
May C,II Out District Militia
Tonight the Spy" menace canssd
The war department to consider turn
ing out the national guard 81 the Dis
rict of Columbia to guard the ma
tional capital from bombs and dvna-
mite outrages. The important brdr-eS
acrosS the Potomac. the Washington
navy yard. where hig ernG for tbs
! feet are under construction. and the
great buildings will he protected
The department OF Justice and tho
secret service have both submitted TO
The president detailed reports on tho
activity of German mpathizers IN
Washington, and these reports led to-
dav to the consideration OF imm ediatn
protective measures Practically every
SUSPECTED German sympathizcr In
Washington is under surveillance, ana
tonight II was stated that many OF
he departments Of the government
itself have furnished the secret ser-
vice men with suspected names. Tho
thou9auds of government employees
include many whose sympathies have
J reCn discovered to lie with Germany 4
cnd every precautton to prevent mis-
'hi"f in Washington VIII be taken.
Naval preparedness went forward
with yjGor today when the departs
ment opening bids for the construc-
zion Of destroyers at noon. awarded
] twenty -four contracts within ona
hour. The ships, designed for night
ing submarines. will be built. ten AZ
he Union Iron Works. San Franz
cisco: eight at the Fore River Ship Il
Z uilding company. Massachusetts. 81
and six at the Cramp Shipbuildink
nlant at Philadelphia, They will b
Euilt foc price fixed at the cost plus
10 per cent Profits. The yards agreed
to rush work on the ships as rapidly
as possible, and the department hopes
10 turn them out within 1fteeR
months, naval board. composed oe
Admirals Capps Rousseau, Grimm and
Taylor. will confer here OH Tuesday
to aie tho yards In mobilixing the
material for the ships.