Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-04
Specific Orders Look to
Safeguarding Of Nauol
Stations, Amy Posts
and Other ropcrty.
lnv A..ociatch rrc-s /

tRv Associated Pros
WASfilNGToN. February 3-rrc-
- safeguard naval stations.
army posts and ars"mals. and other
scrytc" property constituted Tie mill
tary measures taken by tho govern
in"nt tonight following tho Severance
pf diplomatic relations with Germany.
Prcsidcn; Wilson conferred briefly.
after his address to Congress. with
Secretary Baker and Secretary Daniels.
The conference. i; was stated. had To
n nd i, was made clear that tho admin
istrati"n had N" desire TO take war
i;ko measures until forced 10 do so by
som" act uf Germany.
The following specific orders wen,
out during tho day;
The White House and White House
grounds were rlosed TO visitors for the
frs, time in many years
MI navy-yarGs and stations were
closed 10 Tho public until further no
ticc.
cmcors commanding army posts. ar
seuals. magazines. coast batteries were
directed 10 exercise every prccaution.
Tic State. War ana Navy Building
was closed 10 visitors. and cards Of
Identification wcr" issued TO employees
and press representatives entitled TO
admission.
Publications OF the daily ship move
men, list, giving tho departure and
arrivals Of navy vessels, was sus-
pended
NO CHANGE N ORDERS
TO ATLANTIC FLEET
Secretary Daniels said there was no
change in tho orders OF the Atl-ntic
Fleet
'''rh. feet viii! continue rnaneuvcrs
in Tho Guantanamo reg ion" ne said.
Measure OF national preparedness
taken within tho last two years make
IL unnecessary for the War and Navy
Departments 70 do much work that
otherwise would have TO he begun i'm
mediately. For the navy, a survey Of
all merchant craft under tho American
flag and OF all small pleasure craft
and power boats has been virtually
completed Guns for the arming Of
merchant ships have been Assembled
at the various nayy-yards. with plans
for putting them aboard already
worked out The date Of each vessel
has been placed on Ele
For the arn% and navy both. an in
ventory OF the rnsnufs cturiug resources
and plants OF tho country has been
carried we'll forward y textbook on
munition manufacture has been COM
plcted. and * about ready for issue.
From it private manufacturers can
learn quickly the steps necessary for
tn. conversion uf their plants TO war
uses.
The Council II National Defense
created las, year already has taken
over tn" coordination OF industries for
war purposes and has worked out in
part It's general plans.
PRESIDENT CAN INCREASE
SIZE or REGULAR ARMY
Without additional authority T ON
Congress, rr"sidcn, Wilson can direct
that the regular army be increased
al once 10 its full war strength Of
2S6 600 mon. and the navy TO s7,000
This is III addition To The National
Guard, now about $50 900 strong. the
full strength -! which, 10000.
cannot he required under existing law
within four years. The regular army
now numbers about 10000.
Tic War and Ecvy Departments were
full OF gossip to-day a 10 what steps
lay beyond The severance of relations
Nav: officials would not say what plans
We're IN contemplst ton. whether Amer
lean merchant craft would he con-
Noy@d. patrols against submarines set
up of American ports or Submarines
chasing suuadronS organized Oficials
appeared 10 agree that the present sit
uation OF tn. Atlantic Fleet was most
desirable. even If war is 10 com. inn
mediately. II is highly improbable that
amy element Of the great organized
fighting unit Of the navy would be en-
pioyed III convoy OF other duty ;hat
would scatter its elements.
orders issued to-day by the Navy
department forbid ali officials divulG
ing movements OF war vessels 1t was
announced that the Atlantic Fleet
would continue its maneuvcrs near
Guantanamo
issuanc" Of passports 10 Germany
has been suspended.
Governor Manning, "f South Carolina.
was the first of several executives to
telegraph the President approval Of his
course
TO COOPERATE IN GUARDING
ALL FEDERAL PROPERTY
state and municipal authorities
'hl'NS iIbut TIC | lnlttu states mad bocN
called upon 10 cooperate in guarding
all Federal property. mints. assay Of
fees. subtrca suries. post offices arse
nails. armorics. bonded Warehouses; ap-
praiserS' stores and similar structures
They were also called upon to aid the
Federal authorities in every way in
tho maintenance of order and the
guarding Of neutrality.
\ censorship was imposed upon the
publication of all military and naval
orders issued from Washington.
The orders for extraordinary prccau-
tions as To the protection Of public
buildings brought forth the fun fore.
Of tho Washington police department
Tonight
Around the White House twenty
eight policemen were placed on duty
instead Of tho usual thirteen. In three
shifts. under three police sergcants
they Will guard the entrances to the
Whi.c House twenty four hours a day
No ono will be admitted to the White
House grounds except through n single
cntrancc. where u military pass will
he necessary. The same precautions