The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-09
UNCLE SANS NAVAL
FORCE PR|MEO fOR
IMMEDIATE ACTION
No Word as to Disposition Of
Single Unit Will Be Given
Out
SPY DRAGNET RESULTS
IN NUMEROUS ARRESTS
Agents Display Great Activity
On Mexican Border and
General Cleanup of Sus-
poets 10 Ordered
BY +. Il SARIv.-EII.

Washington, April S.--TI,c na.
ton tonight settled down Ia
watch the fleet" rs President
Wilson, his executive licutcnants
ana the congress prepared for
the long drive to carry out tho
stupendous war plans which have
been agreed upon. The first real
war news" Washington believes.
will come from "somewhcrc In
the Atlantic" where the Aner1-
can grand fleet is under war.
orders shrouded in mystery.
No word as to the disposition
or single unit of the fleet will
be given out at the navy depart
ment. Secretary Daniels said to.
night. until there il definite news
OF actual occurrences. The CEN
sorship will he risidly maintained
until an actual engagement OF
some sort has taken place, and
even then the announcement may
he delayed. Meantime Americas
naval force is It sea and ready
for action. whether il be against
the submarine menace that
strikes In the dark. or German
raiders. sulking in the byways OF
tho seven seas.
All day the Offices of tho navy
department buzzcd and sang with
the activity that attends the di-
rcction OF war feet. Admiral
Benson, chief OF naval operations.
and his staff were at their desks
throughout the day. and for q
time Secretary Daniels kept them
company. The secretary said to-
night that the department had
received no affirmative news OF
the activity of "a German raider
in the Atlantic. The secretary
likewise denied a series of SCH
SHttunat rumUrS or thr fTeSffuc-
ton of various American war
ships which flooded Washington
during the day.
Work On Detailed PI,ns.
As the navy--the nations first lin.
" defense-prenarcd for action. til,
lrive for super preparedness went o,
With redoubled energy
The navy officials worked on til,
detailed plans of cooperation be
tween the American navy and tn.
fleets of the entente powers and com
olete arrangements for putting III,
cooperative plans into effect wer,
made
The plans for financial CO. opcra tior
with the allies were considered b,
he presidents advisers and il wa.
decided TO press congress at once 70,
he necessary legislation to pay fol
The great three and half billion dol
ar military plans of the administra
lion and to extend loan OF two OF
three billions to the entente powers
The ways and means committee d
he house Of representatives, and tn,
inance committee of the senate will
get down to work at once, under pres
sure from the executive department.
and the White House to pass the legis
alton to authorize the contemplated
pond issue OF $4,000, 600, 900. and Il
'aise the revenue from taxes in orde,
% meet the stupendous war OK
oenditures. Congress viii also pres
% rush at once the army bill framed
~ the war department which con
.emplates the raising of the regtlal
army and the militia to war strength
and the addition TO the present forces
Of an immediate increment OF 500,
700 men to be raised by selecfivt
lraft.
Despite indications of opposition Il
he draft features OF the army bill, thu
ds4ch tGiGNIS tHdl II NH
De enacted into law promptly. and
hat it will b. in operation within I
short time.
Over 900 Arrests Made.
The precautions taken to meet TIL
enemy within the gates, brought
abundant results. according to report
rom all over the department OF jus
ice today. In the nei2hhorhood Of
,hree hundred arrests OF Gerula4
Aliens. for various American nc.
ivities. We're reported to the depart
nent as a result of the spy dragnea
which began to sweep the countr,
- soon as the president issued Iii
proclamation regulating the conducl
II enemy aliens. The department de,
lined to make any detailed an
1ouncement as TO the arrests made II
he possible scope of future opernl
Ions. but 1t was stated that TIL
secret agents OF tho government werl
we'll satisfied with tho results Of tn
lLu-spy campaign to date.
Agents of the department OF jna'
Ice ard secret service men shown
great activity on the Mexican border
md general clean-up of suspects 4
hat part of tho country has b.
,r.irred- : IT was estimated t0nt1
hat "a total Of 100 arrests tnA&
owns along tho border either
Already bccn- made a A. e4x
NH 81 sss 3SS w gss ~ N ~ q n