New-York tribune., 1918-08-16
Police Force Now
In Critical State.
Enright Admits
Shortage of 1,5OO Men Re-
vealed at Luncheon for
Society Of Restaurateurs

Pollce Commissioner Enright said
yesterday that the police problem in
New York had reached the most crit
ical state in the history of The city.
and that remedial measures must be
instituted at once if q disaster were
to be averted and government interven-
tion with martial law forestalled.
In an address to the Society of Res
taurateurs at luncheon given at Muir
rays yesterday by Captain Patrick V.
kync, the manager, the Commissioner
said that through enlistments, the
draft and other causes the department
was actually short 1900 men.
He said an effort was being made to
mitigate conditions by providing 1000
of the police reserves with the regula-
tion police uniform and equipment 1t
is with this in view, added the Commits
sioner, that the policemen are having
two field days, on August % and 81,
in order to obtain The S5OOo0O neces-
sary for the proper outfits, the city
not being financially able at the pres
ent time to furnish the money.
Society to Sell Tickets
At the close Of the meeting Captain
Kyne, who is an officer in the police
reserve, announced that the society
had pledged itself to dispose of 5000
worth Of tickets for the two days.
Deputy Commissioner Wallis said more
than $300,000 worth Of tickets had al
ready been sold, assuring complete sue
cess for the venture.
Commissioners Enright said rs per
cent of the fighting forces and IS per
cent of the supplies shipped overseas
went through this port.
at is absolutely necessary under
these circumstances" he added, "that
the city be kept orderly and out of
danger. Still, a grave crisis is staring
US in the face. The draft and enlist
ments have taken 1872 men from the
force. By November 1 we will be 1000
men short and by January l we will
lack 1,200, with the present progress
of depletion. But many more police
men now on the force arc not available
because they are doing government
patrol work, so that at the present time
we are in actual need of 1900 men.
1000 Uniforms Needed
I'VE should not annoy the govern
ment by forcing it to police the CITY in
order to protect it's war activities here
We can do it ourselves if there are no
further depletions and we obtain the
1000 uniforms for the reserve organi.
zation. Things have been going along
peacefully enough, but we must have
assistance if we are to ward off disas.
ter and forestall government interven.
ton"
The Commissioner explained that
the police reserves receive no nav fo,
their services and provide their own
uniforms, which are Of course, of nu.
merous varieties. He said they car
exercise the proper police power anc
| command the necessary respect ONLY
by donning the regulation uniform OF
the department.
| Deputy Commissioner Wallis told o,
the many interesting features that will
mark the two days demonstrations
mentioning sham battle in the al,
among forty-two battleplancs and sing.
ing by Enrico Caruso, John McCor.
mack. Schumann-Hcink and others anc
sports by worldwide celebrities.
At the guest table were Inspecto,
Dominick Henry, Captain Charles II
Mckinney, Deputy Commissioner Altar
A. Ryan. Inspector John F. DIVER
Colonel A. d. Porter and w. II. Hirst
counsel for the society