The sun., 1917-03-22
u.S.DESTROYERS
ON SECRET TRIP
General Board Suggested Send
ing Craft Abroad to
War Zone.

WASHINGTON, March 2i,-1n addition
to speeding up work In all branches, the
Navy Department Is giving consldera-
ton TO two more Immediately pressing
phases of the present national emer-
gency. One is the precautionary meas
ures needed to guard against a sudden
German attack aimed at some point on
the Atlantic coast by submarines or
raiders and the other Is the immediate
cooperative measures to be taken with
the British Admiralty toward protecting
ships In the war zone.
The suggestion OF the General Board
to the Secretary with reference TO the
despatch Of the destroyer fiOtilla to the
war zone has met with immediate re.
spOnse. The destrOyers are known to
have left port under sealed orders. but
nothing must be printed as to their
whereabouts now or In the near future,
according to secretary Daniels.
The Secretary also has taken prompt
measures to meet the General Board
suggestions with respect to increasing
Immediately the force of American de-
stroyers that these craft--the natural
enemy of the submariue--inay be used
In the cooperative campaign. Every
available ship building plant will be
utilized 10 It's utmost capacity. The
following announcement was made this
evening by the Navy Department:
Secretary Daniels directed to-day
that bids for the fifteen new destroyers
specifically appropriated for in the naval
act of March 4 be opened on Saturday
next instead of on April 4. kilograms
to this effect were sent 10 prospective
bidders and in view OF the fact that the
naval emergency fund Is now available
for the construction Of additional de-
stroycrs the shlpyards were notified TO
/ send representatives TO take up the
building AT once OF more destroyers."
Mobilization Order soon.
When asked to-day whether he had
ordered the mobilization of the United
! States naval forces in view OF the threat
, ened danger to the Atlantic coast Secre-
tary Daniels said that the order had not
been issued. But he indicated that many
of the precautionary measures included
| in partial mobilization were quietly be-
! ing put into effect. The actual order to
mobilize which the General Board so
earnestly recommends probably will be
| issued in the next few days. it was ex-
, planned,
| The naval strategsts fear that Ger
| many may not wait for a declaration OF
war before attempting some spectacular
| assault by such forces as can be gath
| cred either at American or South
! American ports on some unprotected
F.. point on the Atlantic seaboard i Is
, pointed out that almost every war
declaration in history has been preceded
by some hostile act Of this kind once II
had been evident that war was certain,
Japan struck Russia before war was de-
clared, IL Is pointed out, and the natural
policy OF Germany would te 10 strike
! quickly and before protective measures
were made effective. it is said
/ Because OF this apprehension partiru-
lar attention was given to-day to immc-
! diate coast defence measures SeCrer
tary Daniels has authorized the employ
1 ment Of extra men in the service u rush
defence and Assistant Secretary Roosc-
! welt spent part of the day comforting
with private snip owners.
Submarine Bids Received.
! Bids for the first large consignment
~ 10 foot submarine chasers or coast
! patror boats were received to-day, but
will be held confidential until next
Wednesday. when 100 additional builders
are expected to submit figures. The
navy hopes TO find facilities available
, for more than 200 boats. the iirst #
! them TO be delivered In two 10 three
months, The New York and New Or
leans navy yards have been ordered TO
begin work on sixty-four OF their boats.
Meanwhile the work OF surveying pri-
yate yachts and motor craft is being
pressed In every naval district and the
! enrolment OF volunteers 10 man the
boats proceeds rapidly.
The Department has no present ntcn-
| tion of taking over merchant craft for
naval use, Secretary Daniels said to-
night amplifying earlier assurances
given to American ship owners by Chai- =
man penman of the Shipping Board.
/ All American merchant ships have been
surveyed and classified by navy officials
Tor possible use in time of war. The
guns being placed aboard transatlantic
craft were destined originally to arm
auxiliary cruisers withdrawn from mcr-
chant fleets for that purpose. other
vessels were classified as colliers, supply
ships or transport as they Were found
suitable In many instances the officers
of these ships have enrolled as re.
serve naval officers and would accom-,
pany their vessels In the Government
service.
mo definite policy has yet beer
Continued on Second Pa0e.
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COHAN 4 HARRIS THEATRE. NOW