Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-08
IrIE PLANTERS READY
10 FORTTFY DELAWARE
Powerful Explosives Could Be
+ Strewn in River in Twenty
four Hours
THREE FORTS PREPARED
0oldiers No Longer Have Leave of Abb
sence-Guardsme Called
R Home

Everything is reported in readiness for
0efense Of the Delaware River in event OF
- war. In addition 10 the great act witty
~ the League Island Navy Yard the artll-
iery companies stationed at the forts on
the lower part OF the river have been
enEased in preparatory work on large
scale. II is understood that the Delaware
River will be mined at the first signs OF
hostility. This work is IN charge OF what
" known as the mining company OF the de-
lenses of the Delaware. and II Is said that
plans have been perfected whereby the
stream can be strewn with underwater de-
fenses within twenty-four hours.
Mine plots or charts indicat ng the exact
locations for the explosives II has been
long rumored. have been perfected. The
mines and mine layers are ready at the
forts so that the work would consist OF
planting and connecting the mines with the
shore wires by which explosion IS controlled
BY electric power.
ALL FORTS PREPARED
The huge guns, mortars and torpedo bat
teries at Fort du Pont. Fort Mott and Fort
Delaware are said to be In first class work.
ing order and can be manned at mo-
ments notice. Since the break with Ger
, many the soldiers at the posts have been
kept under strict orders and are not al
lowed even a few hours leave of absence
A double row Of guards has been placed
about the forts and no visitors are per-
mitted on the reservations.
The PENNSYLVANIA Shipbuilding Company
Of Philadelphia. and the Eagle steel COM
pany of Pottsville were among the COM
panies which offered their services to the
Government In the announcement made by
Secretary Daniels today
The second battalion OF the Delaware
National Guard. which arrived in winning
ton yesterday from Dem!ng, y. M, mas
orders to go to Fort du Pont to be mus
tered out of Federal service. Should
q threatening situation confront the Gov
ernment within the next few days 1t Is ex-
pected that the battalion will be stationed
Tor duty at Forts Mott and Delaware.
GUARDsMEN ON THEIR TOES
oficers of the National Guard in this
oity have announced that virtually every
euardsman in the State is ready to respond
almost instantly should orders he received
for the mobilization Of the militia.
The preparations for eummoning the
Kyardsmen in double quick time have
been under way for several days past
Those out Of town on business or on pleas
ure trips have been communicated with
and can be reached on short notice, the
officers said
The battleship Alabama was towed today
from her berth in the back channel ol
the navy yard to a position about half
q length nearer to the German ships Eitel
Friedrich and kronprinz wilhelm. No rea-
sons for the movement were given by Of
acials but it is understood that it was
desired to place the ship some distance
from the edge of the back channel. where
many workmen are constantly passing.
Signs were placed today at various points
of the German village bearing the notice
"Government property-trespassers liable 10
be fred on" About thirty guards are Kept
in the neghborhood OF the German vessels
and orders have been issued permitting only
nft tha into mad 4
. ally needed in the village to leave the
ships.
A shipment of anti-arcraft guns and
light guns supposed to he for merchant ship
defense is reported to be on It's way from
q Connecticut manufacturer,
The forty-two sailors composing the Ger
man prize crew of the captured British
steamship Appam, interned at HAMPTON
Roads. are expected tomorrow at the Pnlla-
delphia Navy Yard, where taey wll be m
termed. The German officer in charge Is
Captain Hans Berg.
Vigilance was relaxed today by the GUS
toms guards at the Christian street pier,
where the Hamburg liners Prinz
Oskar and Rhaetia and the Austro-Hun-
garian steamship Franconia are moored'
The crews were allowed to leave the Nes-
sells. but the pier remains closed to the
public.
POLICE GUARD BRIDGE
Police guards have been placed over the
Delair bridge. which carries the tracks or
the Atlantic City division of the Pennsyi-
vania Railroad across the Delaware River.
Lieutenant Hornsby. of the Belgrade and
Clearfield streets station, has detailed
police guard at the Bridesburg end OF the
bridge and the Delair authoyities have
taken the same action on the New Jersey
side. Policemen also are guarding the spots
where water mains have broken recently
at Torresdae and Frankford avenues.
Jasper street and Wheatsheaf lane and
Frankford avenue and Frankford Creek
Steady increases in the daily enlistment
figures to the army and navy have been
reported. Announcement also has been
made that should war be declared between
the United States and Germany, a regiment
OF German Americans would be formed in
this city to fight under the American flag.
N A. Godsho, secretary of the German
American Alliance, said that while he did
not know the details, he was convinced
that such course OF action would be
undertaken
z "All of the German-Amerlcans would be
among the first to rush to the defense Of
the American hag," he said. You wouldn't
be able to form company OF men in this
city who would fight against the United
States. The German-Americans will be the
nrst to show their true loyalty"
Two British steamships took out clear
ance papers today. They are the Manches-
ter Merchant. loading shells at Point House
wharf. for Manchester, and the Dominion,
with a general cargo for Liverpool.
The American tanker Gold Shell has
cleared from this port with cargo of oil
for the Allies Other ships will sail for the
war zone as soon as loaded, 1t was an
nounced again today.
RED CROSS ACTIVITY
Warships at League Island are being
fitted out with complete Red Cross and
hospital outfits. The work of shipping in
supplies, which has bsen undertaken by the
Red Cross at tie request of Surgeon Cen
eral Victor NJ. Blue. of the United States
Navy. will be begun today.
F Fifty complete sets Of Red Cross supplies
which have been asked for by Surgeon Gen.
ernl Blue will comprise more than 1000 gar
ments Each box contains forty-eight pairs
Of pajamas. twenty -four shirts, fifty pairs
OF socks, I'VE ..'-fo,- bathrobes Inc twenty
four pairs Of slippers. in addition to sur
4 Dical supplies.
DOCTORS HOPE TO SAVE.
NOTED AVIATOR'S LIFE
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