The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-09
PREPAREDNESS WORK
GOES ON At TOP SPEED
Naval Bill Radically Amended In Or
der to Strengthen Weak Spots
in Defense Program
MEASURE WILL FINALLY
CARRY NEARLY HALF BILLION
Scores of American Munitions and In
dustrial Concerns Tender Use OF
Their Plants to the United States
Government.

Washington. Feb. s-Executive and
Legislative preparations for the next
step" in the German situation were
continued today under pressure and
under the personal direction of Presi-
dent Wilson
The president in ffteen-minute con-
ferences went over military and naval
dispositions with Secretary Of War
War Baker and Secretary OF Navy Dan
iels in their own offices. Immediately
the war machinery was given a new
impetus toward complete preparedness,
Secretary Daniels. after Commandment
John Robson. of the Newport. r. /.
torpedo station, reported the need for
increased torpedo output. called in
Chairman Padgett, of the house naval
AFFAIRS committee and an amendment
to the naval appropriation bill In
creasing by SSeo.909 the appropriation
for the torpedo manufacturing plant
was agreed on. The money will be
spent for new machinery, and accord.
ing to Commandant Robson 1t will
save the government 50. 000.0 600 in war
time. The amendment will be rushed
out OF the house committee tomorrow
and incorporated in the bin. 1t is ex-
pected that before the measure finally
becomes law it Will carry nearly half
a billion dollars. of which more than
$10o.000J0o0 will be directly due to the
present International situation.
Emergency steps Taken.
To protect these emergency amend
ments Representative Padgett today
sought special rules from the house
rules committee to make the new pro-
posals in order on the bill. Considera-
ton OF the measure in the house was
Interrupted temporarily today. but the
leaders plan to speed up on the bill
tomorrow
Following his conference with the
president, Secretary Baker remained
in his office late tonight. The censor
ship lid at both the war and navy
departments, however. concealed all
actual orders.
Offers of plants and the products Of
industry for use OF the United States
into the war and navy departments
and to the president, Harold Walker.
attorney for the Mexican Petroleum
corporation u.td). rendered on. behalf
of Edward l. Doheny. of California
the entire plant. product and transpor-
tation facilities Of his industry The
offer included ten huge tank steam-
ers, 100000 gallons OF fuel oil now
in the tanks at Tampico, Mexico;
Doheny's private yacht and the plants
of the corporation at Portland. Me,
Providence. r. L.. Carteret. n j. Tam
pa. Fla, New Orleans, Cristohal Ba-
hia. Brazil and Rio Janeiro.
Many Tender Plants.
Other corporations to the number of
ffty-four offered their services and
their plants, Among the more impor-
tant were.
The Republic Iron and Steel COM
pany, Havershaw Electric Cable COM
pany. Bronx Terminal corporation
Bridgeport Projectile company, Balti-
more Dry Docks and Shipbuilding COM
pany, Braeburn Steel corporation. OF
Pittsburg; Aluminium Company of
America. Ingersoll- Rand company, York
Manufacturing company. OF York, Pa:
General Electric company. w r Grace
4 Co. ship owners. and the American
British Manufacturing company. of
Bridgeport.
AS a precautionary measure seventy.
Eve members OF the coast guard not
native Americans were ordered dis
missed Internationally. Some OF the
men were veterans Of the service. Even
men with their first citizenship papers
were included in the release orders.
The veterans of '61-'65 today offered
their services to the government en-
masse through William II. Patterson.
of Pittsburg. comma der -in-chief Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Commander Patterson called on
b . ~