Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-05
NEW YORK NAVAL
MILITIA GUARD
GREAT BRIDGES
Republican A. p. Leased Wlre1

NEW YORK, F'eD 4.-DetdcnmentS
of the New York naval militia equipped
as infantrymen. today patrolled and
guarded the five great East River
bridges connecting Manhattan with
Long Island AT sunset, five naval mi
ltia tugs, one an ocean going vessel
began steaming up and down the river
in proximity to the structures, warn
ing all river craft not to approach
within fifty feet of the bridge piers.
Special vigilance was exercised at
the Manhattan, Brooklyn and VIII
liamsburg bridges. Destruction of any
one of these bridges, it was pointed
out, would interfere seriously with the
departure of warships from New York,
navy yard.
To each bridge details of 100 militia
men We're assigned, with instructions
to search vehicles and pedestrians
crossing the bridges, in the discretion
of the sentrles, and to permit no person
to halt on the structures.
Constant watch was maintained at
the cable anchorages and "other points
where the discharge of a small suan-
| tity of high explosive might lead to the
destruction of the bridge" One three
| FOUNDER gun and machine guns were
! posted between bridge piers on both
sides of the river. Anchorages, foot
ways and driveways had extra illum-
| nations tonight.
1t was announced that the approach
es to the bridges and the bridge floors
| where militiamen have been on guard
viii be turned over to the police to-
morrow.
Hell Gate bridge and its connecting
railways We're being guarded tonight
by naval militia. This structure is
/ considered one of the greatest engin-
eering feats in the country.
Ensign Vincent Aston, junior aide
TO Commodore Forshew. commanding
the naval militia. said tonight that
seventy per cent of organization re-
sponded to the call at 10 o'clock this
morning.
Governor Whitmans order for the
! general mobilization ~ the nationa
| guard went into effert today in modl-
| fed form. Only small attachments OF
the states military and naval foice.
! were actually called out. the governor
said, While every armory in the state
vas ready to put into operation III,
| all for full mobilization.
Squads of sailors from the United
states battleship New Jersey, armeo
| With rifles, guarded the approaches
| and trestles of the recently complateC
| New York connecting railways bridge
onnecting the Bronx with Astoria
Long Island
Police guards have been placed o
llroaa terminals, cable, telegraph ant
telephone buildings, the city hail an,
lct4ef public buildings and throughoI
trs inIncial district ~ this city.
\ the usual lawful way on the as
| warned that an overt act means war
Nothing definite as to Ambassado
Gerard's departure from Germany wa
announced tonight. 1t is presume,
rat as soon as he can secure his pass
orts from the Wilhelmstrasse he vii
ssemble his suite and all America
eonsular officers in Germany, and G
% some adjoining neutral state. prob
, bly, Holland or Switzerland and pre-
pare to return to the United States.
! Count Won Bernstorff, the Germa,
AMBASSADOR here, continued his prep
a,4tions for turning over the embass
, to me Swiss minister DR.. Ritter, an
for aaving the country. The state de
fartment is endeavoring to secur
from the entente allies a safe retur
tor the ambassador and his suite.
I President Wilson spent the da
= quietly, attending church in the morn
: ir- comforting briefly with official
} over the telephone and in the afternoo
/ "a king over with Senator Simmon!
/ chairman of the senate finance com
mittee, the problem of raising neces
sary revenues should war come. Their
we're no unusual signs of activity abou
ne state, war or navy departments bu
2 underneath the surface forces were a
r work preparing the country for a stu
alton which has been expected bu
2 hoped against ever since the issue wit
! German became acute.
e 1t is not impossible that the preser
situation will continue several day
e before there are any evidences {
/ whether Germany intends to halt he
r campaign of ruthlessness before Pres
ident Wilson's final demand for re
\ speit to American rights or whethe
s she will follow out her plan and TAX
e the consequences.
= Provisions made in the new subma
i rine order for the safety of ships {
o sea at the time it was promulgate
t may postpone the overt act whic
would be an act of war On the oths
C hand, it may come at any moment b
8 the ruthless act, OF even mistake
e some submarine commander.
y With relations severed and II
r country preparing to meet the ne,
= step as it comes, officials are reflec
s ing now upon the situation as it affec
the cause Of peace and the situation
d the belligerents themselves.
n 1t seems to be accepted that the a,
6 ton of the United States will tend
hold the entente allies faster togeth
6 than ever before and deter talk of
= separate peace. 1t seems to be accep
y ed, too, that the rupture definitely r
If moves the United States as the world
ir peace maker and from the Germs
is point of view brings forward Xii
j. Alfonso of Spain. Curiously enoug
d the German ambassador Count W
- Bernstorff, several months ago e
pressed the personal opinion that n
President Wilson but the king of Spa
would be the man to bring peace
| the world
Should ii eventuate that all 9th
neutrals accepted the presidents su
gestion that they sever diplomatic +
lations with Germany. the voice
| peace would have to come from {
Vatican.
The entente embassies. confide
that the United States cannot he
being forced into the conflict, are di
cussing among themselves what pa
the United States would take in t
war.
III Congress, stirred with patriotic fe