Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-21

started at once to work on plans that hay,
oeen formulated by the National Defense
Souhcii on other lines.
me hrst lnstallment of bids for the zoo
OF more submarine chasers for the navy
were opened at the department, at noon
yearly 100 additional boat t-buiIding con.
Germs were requested to inform the Govern
n@nent @ OF their capacity for turning ont the
| httie chaser boats
heeis Tor sixty are being laid at the New
dolk navy yard and for four at the New
| ,.u',',, 'aros' Every spaed-up measure,
| .'oiuuhs suspension Of eight-hour work.
oay regulations in the yards win be nut in
| force. ' wiz "e P"' III
| FOR MUNITIONS SUPPLIES
ans Tor obtaining an instant and ade-
quate supply of munitions are under wav
Munitions firms which continue ,n bo,d
out Tor eNorbitant prices are expected 70 be
SuhmariIy commandeered by the Govern
ment ''' ''''"
naval architects We're directed to rush
20 completion plans for The three new a.
superdreadnoughts. fifteen destroy
Ts ana thlrty-eight S00-ton submarines
IL is probable the next move of the de-
partment will be TO assume control over
an raolo apparatus in the country TO preven,
Information of the Governments defense
measures from going abroad.
The general staff of the army has i'm its
immediate coordination of all telegraph
ana telephone systems. Instantaneous COM
munication with distant points will be
established from army and navy headuuar-
terS TO expedite an anticipated mobilization
OF the National Guard, naval militia and
the Atlantic fleet
The matter of financing the expected call
to arms is under way at the Treasury De-
partment. The first step will be the issu-
ance of 800, OOO,OO in bonds authorized in
Lost
gency.
MONEY A-PLENTY
Congress is expected to empower ssu-
ance at once of another gigantic bond issue
While the Navy Department has adequate
funds to cover present naval plans. and in
deed, an emergency appropriation of $l15.-
100000 to cover Speed-up measures on the
new warshps and additional submarine
chasers should Congress direct a more eX-
tensive preparation. the department has
said it will ashland get--more money.
Senator Chamberlain conferred with
Secretary of War Baker today relative to
his plan for universal service. Doubt exists
among military men that the intricate ma
chinery for putting universal service into
practice could be placed in motion under |
two years. This would. of course, require
adoption of the volunteer system, at least |
temporarily. in the present crisis. should |
troops be needed.
AIR SERVICE PLANS
A report from joint board of army and |
navy officers late today recommended the !
coordination of the military and |
naval aeronautic services for maximum |
national advantage in war" The board !
urged also that aeronautical pilots and OBJ |
servers be trained together in joint stations |
near the coast
Coordination of the services. the board |
said, should include "A general standardiza-
in,N
air service. in time of war, would be |
charged with operations in connection with
the feet oversee scouting from shore bases
and for protection of naval reserves. The
army section would be charged with de-
Tense of cities, fortifications arsenals. navy |
Yards, shipbuilding plants, powder works
and national utilities: with fire control for
coast defenses and operations in conjunc-
ion with the mobile army
The board recommended. however. that
no line of sharp demarkation be drawn.
President Wilson has issued an executive
)rder restoring to their former civil service
status all national suardsmen. who as a
'esult of border service lost their rating. |
he Department Of Commerce stated today.
The Presidents order was that the eligi-
'ility period be extended in cases of guards
nen so that they should be restored to
he rating they held at the time of their call
o the colors. Guardsmen were requested
o write to the Civil Service Commission.
living the time of their call and the time
# their mastering out. Several thousand
nen are affected.
NO COALITION CABINET
Despite a growing demand for Il coalition
'abinet in event of the expected--open
ostilities between the United States and
Wilson at this time is |
ot considering such step, it was strongly
animated today.
IL was learned officially the President |
,as considering no changes in his Cabinet
1t was also learned positively that no
Drmal designations of present Cabinet |
lembers had been presented to the Presi-
ent, although each member has. in ac-
ordance with custom. informally indicated
, the President his willingness to retire
hould the President deem changes adyis-
BILE.
The nearest approach to a coalition Cab