New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
THINGS TO BE DONE IN THE EVENT OF WAR
Training Women to Fill Places of Mer
Solves Some Vital Problems Re
cruiting, Censorship and Other
Important Questions

the vessel. And that is merely a sampl
Of the sort of thing that if war were to b
declared between Germany and the Unite
States would have to be terminated.
The act of Parliament, however, whic
Americans at the present juncture Nigh
most fruitfully study is the Defence o
rules and orders made under its pre-
visions. It gives "the competent naval O
military authority and any person duh
authorized by him" the power to take pc,
session Of any land, woods, buildingi
stores and vehicles he pleases. He ca
stop up whatever roads he peases, ca
requisition the output of factories maxim
any sort Of war material or equipment
can forbid the holding Of fairs, expos
tions and race meetings, can close tn
saloons and regulate the working Of fac
tories. He can forbid a workman to leau
a firm that is producing munitions. X
can require that water, heat, light an
power shall be supplied to whatever prem
ises he designates. He can restrict at wi
all building operations in his district. II
can prohibit public assemblies, order a.
lights to be extinguished and forbid tn
ringing of bells or the striking of publ
clocks. He can remove all suspicious o.
undesirable persons from the neighboI
hood of camps, order the inhabitants /
any specified area to remain indoors an
restrict the liberty of even interned pei
sons "of hostile origin or associations"
Besides the act empowers the prope
authorities to require a census Of all goodi
animals and other commodities from TN
people Of given district. 1t imposes Sc
we're penalties on the getting Of naval an
military information and on all communi
cations with spies. It prohibits the takin
of photographs of naval or military works
1t places restrictions on the publication
inventions and designs. 1t forbids the pri
vate ownership Of carrier pigeons am
wireless apparatus. It prohibits the US
Of Invisible INK and other sec5et means
communication. 1t vetoes- Che spreadin
of false or prejudcial rumors. 1t is ful
Of provisions against trespassing on rail
ways and near munition factories. IL au
thorizes the commandment 10 prevent on
trance into the military area under hi
charge. The sale Of arms and explosives
dealings in war material, the buying an
selling of vast variety OF metals, the pos
session Of firearms, the storage of inham
mable liquids and substances, the supply
ing of drink TO soldiers and sailors, the sal
of cocaine or opium, the unauthorized US
Of decorations, the posting up in con
spicuous place Of all employees Of militsr
age, the stirring up Of strikes in mum
tons factories, the forgery Of or the tam
pering with passports and exemption Ger
tifcates-all these matters come within
its scope.
And, in addition, the act establishes th
widest powers of search, arrest, examine
ton and seizure, and lays down the rul
for the summary trial Of offenders. Not al
of it by any means would have to be applie
by Americans if they were at war with
first class power. But great deal Of
would certainly be as much needed in tn
United States as 1t was in Great Britat
at the outbreak Of the war, and as it still i,
Some such comprehensive measure woub
undoubtedly have to be passed and to b
made operative throughout the Union i
the event of war that really taxed IN
strength and resources of America.