The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-03-26

yet been mustered out from Mexican
border duty.
oUARDsMEN TO TAKE CARE OF
POINTS OF VITAL INTEREST.
The soldiers will be utilized TO guard
public works. shlpynros. munition
plants, important bridges and tunnels.
and other points vital to national de-
tense.
In the regular army. the new orders
partments into six. for closer admin
lstration. splitting the present large
Eastern Department that extends all
along tho Atlantic Coast into three
smaller commands. Now England is
set off into a separate department
called the Northeastern. with head
quarters at Boston.
The Southern States east OF the
Mississippi River are set off into
another department called the
Southeastern. with headquarters at
Charleston. 4. C.
Tho Middle Atlantic States are left
in the Eastern Department. with
Headquarters at Governors Island,
New York.
In the assignment OF commands. to
take effect May !. there Is made u
change that will provoke public dis
cusslon. Major Gen. Leonard Wood.
commander OF tho present Eastern
Department. Is transferred from New
York to Charleston. Two views OF
this change are taken. Radical
partlsans profess TO see In II a dis
ciplinary movo because OF Gen.
Woods criticisms OF unpreparedness.
On the other hand. no section OF the
country has had scantior military at
tenton than the southeastern sea-
board. including New Orleans and
Galveston defenses. which. are as
signed to the new department
The need OF strong commander
and a vigorous organiser are con-
siderod necessary In the region that
lies closest TO the West Indes and
tho Caribbean Sea that are filled
with suspicion OF German plotting
and raiding.
HOW THE VARIOUS DEPART.
MENTs WILL BE COMMANDED.
In addition to Major Gen. Wood, the
following changes were ordered:
Eastern Department-MAjor Gen
J. Franklin Bell. now commanding
A tho Western Department, in Sar
Francisco.
Northeastern Depart m ent-BriE
Gen. Clarence r. Edwards, now com.
manding in the Panama Canal Zone.
Central Department-,Major Gen
Thomas II. Barry its present com.
mander.
Southern Department-MaJor Gen
John ]. Pershing. its present com.
. mander.
: Western Department--MaJor Gen
Hunter Llggett, now commanding II
. the Philippines.
Panama Canal Zone-Brig. Gen
4, Edward II. Plummer. now In com.
mand OF a brigade on the Mexican
border.
The command OF the Philippines
n rellnqulshed by Gen. Liggett. will
J, probably dcvolvo on Brig. Gen
S Charles j. Bailey.
u Industrial preparedness plans ar,
Z being pushed rapidly to reinforce
e these military moves, The work OF
:, bringing munition plants, shlpyardi
- and the largest manufacturing enter
'. prises into harmonious CO. operation
- with the Government is being con
n Quoted by the executive department
ID ana patriotic captains OF industr
At allied with the Advisory Council O
National Defense,
I'd An agreement with American man
a ufacturers by which all structur.
r steel needed for the nayy's buldln
X programme could be obtained quickl
I, and at a fair price Is being sought h
~ Bernard Baruch Of the National Dt
40 fense Council
Secretary Daniels tomorrow vi
= consult steel companies ana other COT
= tractors for material In destroyer cor
struction.
with orders out for twenty-fol
boats and more contracts TO folio
Immediately, the work must he dii
Tibuted among material contractor