Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-16
Ry JosEPHUs DANIELS,

VOuS OF various FORCES ulSCluS6u-
Destroy reference (a)."
BY JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy.
Copyright. 1921. by John f. Ollie. Copy
right by National Newspaper Service.
Copyright in Great Britain, Canada and
throughout Europe. All rights reserved,
including translation into foreign Ian
guages, including the scandinavian. III
authorized reprinting for any purpose for
hidden.
ARTICLE 3.
The Atlantic feet, under Admira!
Henry T. Mayo, went on a war basis
at o'clock on the afternoon Of Feb.
8, 1917.
At the same hour of the same cay
President Wilson delivered his mes
sage to Congress seveTing relations
with Germany, and the Department of
State handed Bernstorff his pass
ports.
l had just finished sending out a
one-line dispatch ordering the mo-
bilization of naval communications,
when a summons came to me to at
tend a conference with the President
at the White House. He had finished
the delivery of his message and re-
turned to his official residence.
My message, which put al our COM
municatiOns-radiO telegraph, tele-
phone, mails and signals-on a war
basis, read as follows:
"One Alatl Radicode. Mobilize
Naval Communications.
"SECNAV."
"Secnav" is the code word for Secrc-
tary OF the Navy. The order was sputtcr-
ing out by wireless as I walked over to
the White House. I found the Secretary
Of War had also been summoned.
FEARS OF
GERMAN PLOTTERS.
The president was anxious concerning
the safety OF military and naval prop
erty. We knew enough about German
plotting TO feel the very real cause for
this anxiety. There were thousands Of
aliens in the United States. none Of
whom could be interned legally unless or
until war was declared, Mai might
happen under the proy6cauOn 70 alien
sentiment which had been given IN sew
ering relations with Germany none Of US
could tell: but obviously the situation
was perilous, and demanded the taking
of extraordinary precautions.
Orders were Immediately sent TO every
the United States, Hawaii. Alaska, Guam
and the Philippines, to bar all visitors
and to strengthen guards. The guard
for the Panama canal was doubled.
The publication OF the movement Of
naval vessels and Of the daily orders to
naval officers was discontinued. in order
to prevent Information Of a nature use
full to the potential enemy reaching Ger
man ears
The ships we had maintained along the
coast to enforce neutrality regulations
were increased in number. and this con-
sideratiOn for neutrality now became
consideration for our own safety and
virtual coast patrol was established.
WILSON KEEPS
CLOSE WATCH.
The President watched every step dur
ing these days with closest attention.
He was not satisfied with general re-
ports on what was being done.
The Monday following the break in
diplomatic relations he appeared sudden
" in my office. was hard at work on
plans, reports and orders. told him
what had done, and what I was doing.
He suggested we go together to the
War Department. The Secretary Of War
was there, and the three OF us spent a
long session in discussing the situation.
Some of the things the President said
to us are indelibly impressed upon my
memory.
He told US the breach in diplomatic re
lations did not necessarily mean war, but
it brought US so close to the possibility
we must put our house in order and be
ready for any emergency.
He was concerned about the personnel
in raSppatiyp leDartmenrS.
Each Of you must surround yourselves
with the ablest men you have" he said
and, turning to me, he asked whether l
felt that my immediate advisers-the
chief Of naval operations, the chiefs Of
bureaus and the officers In important
commands aioat-were the right ones ts
retain in these positions.
"GET AND KEEP
THE BEST"
"They are the best in the Navy" /
told him.
He asked the same question Of Secre-
tary Baker. and be replied that his men
knew their Jobs, and were going ahead
with them. Some were necessarily slated
for early retirement. but TO anticipate
this. he thought, would be unwtse. occa-
sioning needless alarm and disturbing
morale
The President listened intently to us
and reiterated his desire that only the
ablest, most alert and energetic men
should be put in places Of responsibility
Get and keep the best" he said, as
our conference ended.
We continued developing our plans
along the indicated lines. On the same
day the order was issued mObilizing com
municatiOns l had sent a dispatch requir-
ing every ship of the three heets-Atlan-
tic. Pacific and sAsiatic-tO report imme-
diately on its readiness for war. The
condition OF the ship. guns. machinery
Continued on Page Four)