Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-05
NATION READY
FOR WAR FOOTING
Fleet to Remain on Alert at
Guantanamo to Strike at
Moments Notice
WILSON SEES CHIEFS
Mobilization Orders Are Ready
For Regular Army and
National Guard
WILSON SEES CHIEFS

prepared to go on a war footing to-
day.
Immediately on returning from the
Capitol President Wilson summoned
Secretary of War Baker and Secretary
of the Navy Daniels to the White
House. He desired to take up the mat
ter of necessary precautionary military
measures without delay. The Presi-
dent, realizing that the hope to avert
hostilities is slender one, asked for
statement concerning the military
and naval establishments from the
point of view of preparedness for even
Qualities. He also wanted suggestions
as to the first precautionary moves that
should be made at once.
The conference lasted about half an
hour and bristled with decisions sug-
gested by the two secretaries and in
dorsed forthwith by the President. Ad-
miral Mayo, commanding the battleship
fleet, is to hold his vessels in readiness
at Guantanamo and see that everything
is shipshape aboard all the vessels un-
der his direct command.
Mobilization Orders Ready
Mobilization orders for the regular
army and National Guard are ready and
await only a word from the President
to be put into effect. Without addi-
tional authority from Congress Presi-
dent Wilson can direct that the regular
army be increased at once to it's full
war strength of 2S6.000 men and the
navy to $1,000. There are in the Ma
tional Guard about 10000 men. The
full strength of the guard, 40, 600, can
not be required under existing law
within four years. The regular army
now numbers about 10000 and would
not be recruited to full strength eX-
l ant - h. IT,. 1N
emergency "of threatened war"
The President and Mr.. Baker discus
sed the most expeditions means of
bringing the country to a war footing
in the shortest possible time the mo-
ment hostilities with Germany became
certainty.
The War Departments mobilization
plan, drawn up by the General staff, is
regarded as fitting any initial trouble.
1t will be used also as the basis for the
establishment and equipment of new
army which the President now real
ICES must be speedily put into shape
If war confronts the country.
The tentative plans discussed revolved
about the actual mobilization and the
creation of the new forces. Orders
were sent out to every fort, arsenal
and depot OF military supplies to re-
double the guard against any purprise
attempt to damage them, but the main
features of the conference concerned
the plans for really putting the coun-
try on a war footing.
So far as the mapped out mobiliza-
tion is concerned, it is probable that
during the cold months at least the
National Guardsmen, after being mus
tered into federal service, would re-
main at armories or in camp. Training
would be the watchword.
The pian for raising an army ia he =
ing considered on the basis of the
War Departments universal service
bill. Major-General Scott, chief of
stan, and army officers generally re-
gard this as affording the most prac-
tical means of providing a nucleus for
an efficient force and Secretary Baker
has indorsed this view.
This plan, the details of which have
been withheld from publication, would
provide for the raising of approximate
ly 100000 men by calling to the colors
all fit citizens of the age of 10, for
example. 1t is estimated that there
are approximately 100000 of this age.
Discounting those who would prove
physically unfit or for other reasons
would be rejected, and also discounting
those who might be assigned to duty
in munition factories, etc, there would
remain. roughly. 100000 men for the
intensive training which the War De-
partment would require.
BY this scale the War Department
calculates it could provide another
100000 men by calling to colors men
of the age of 20 and another 100000 at
the age of 81. Thus 100000 men
could be called out by confining the
age limit from 10 to 81. The policy of
the department is to take first the mon
who would have the least responsi-
bilities.
Intensive training would equip raw
recruits for war service in approx
mately nine months, it is estimated.
This was the conclusion reached by
Great Britain after the actual expert
ence OF training men in til present
war.
Use of the Navy
The War and Navy Departments were
full of gossip to-day as to what steps
lay beyond the severance of relations.
The question of the use which might be
made of the navy occupied most at
Itention as one that would have imme-
diate bearing. Navy officials would not
say what plans were in contemplation,
whether American merchant craft
would be conveyed, patrols against sub
marines set up off American ports. or
submarine chasing squadrons organi-
zed.
So far the fleet is concerned, off,
cials appeared to agree that it's present
situation was most desirable, even II
war is to come Immediately. 1t is high
| ly improbable that any element of the
great organized fighting unit of the
navy would be employed in convoy or
other duty that would scatter it's ele-
ments. Presumably navy practice would
follow that of other countries in the
event of war and the fleet be kept al
some secret mobilization point, ready
to strike in any direction in which
lighting strength might be needed.
Officers who have been urging uni
versal service legislation are hopeful
that the bill prepared by the General
STAFF for this purpose would be prompt
| ly enacted should war come and the
organization of the army proceed along
the lines it lays down. Details of the
bill will not be disclosed until it has
been completed and submitted to Sec.
retary Baker and Congress.
Oners From Plants
| Secretary Daniels is understood tC
have informed the President that g
deluge of patriotic offers already hac
been telegraphed to him from private
firms throughout the country offering
to make every sacrifice to equip speed
| lily the navy for any emergency.
Shipbuilders, steel manufacturers
projectile and armor plate concerns al
came to the front in a wave of patriot.
ism to offer the best and quickest ser.