South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-16


They are the best in the navy"
told him.
He asked the same question OF
Sec'y. Baker. and he replied that
his men knew their jobs, and were
going ahead with them. Some
were necessarily slated for early re-
tirement, but 70 anticipate this, ne
thought, would BE- Unwise, occasion
ing needless a'4rm and disturbing
morale
The president listened intently .
Us, and reiterated his desire that
only the ablest. most alert ard en-
ergetic 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
modelling communications had
sent a dispatch requiring every ship
OF the three fleets-Atlantic. Pacific
and Asistic-to report Immediately
On it's readiness for war. The condi-
don OF the ship. guns, machinery
and personnel, together with what
repairs or additions might be need
Cd, were imperative matters for in
formation Az a result OF this dis
patch we knew very quickly pre-
cisely where we stood. and were
able 20 meet promptly and effective
~ the conditions which required at
tention and remedy.
Events Move Rapidh
After the cabinet meeting OF
March 90 when decision was
reached that congress should be
asked TO declare war. things moved
with increasing rapidly.
Admiral Mayo had notified me-
that he planned 10 bring his gun
merry exercises and maneuvers to an
end by April 5. and 10 start north
for home waters. We were anxious
10 interfere as little as possible with
the important practice work off
Cuba but when it was settled be-
yond reasonable doubt that we were
TO become a belligerent, we decided
to call the Atlantic fleet northwar1
at once. So. following the March
goth meeting, I dispatched an order
which headed the fleet for Hampton
Roads.
Plans 10 Protect Shipping.
That same afternoon, accom-
panied by Admiral Benson, chief OF
naval operations. l attended a
meeting OF the general board OF the
navy. and asked the board. in the
name of the president, to draft at
once recommendations for some
means more effective than that OF
armed guards for protecting Ameri-
can shipping entering European
ports.
In reply, the board reiterated
recommendations which it had
made on Feb. 4, as follows:
(a) Escort vessels 10 deep water
from our ports and similarly from
deep water 70 our ports.
OBJ Arrange with the British
and French governments for the
convoy OF our merchant ships
through the barred zones.
Co Merchant ships TO proceed on
the high seas from points OF leav-
ing and receiving escorts. depend
ing upon their guns for protection.
and upon changes OF course 10 fol-
low alternate routes.
cd Arrange with British and
French governments a code OF sig
nails to be used in directing mer-
chant ships as to routes to be fol-
lowed and points OF meeting escorts.
Ce) Establish a patrol OF the At
lantic coast.
90 Recruit up to the limit al
lowed by law for emergencies in or
der TO provide crews for patrols and
and 10 fill battieship
compliments which have been de-
pleted.
All Ready for War.
Obviously some Of these recon-
could not be put into
effect until a state Of war existed.
1 ordered the office of naval opera
tons to be ready 10 act upon them
instantly when occasion arrived.
And now want>to give you a doc
ument which has never been printed
before. II is the text OF the mobili-
zatiOn plan sent TO every commander
Of fleets and vessels and TO every
district commandant. The arrange
ments were so complete in every de-
tail. and every commander and Off
cial knew so well what 20 do, that il
was necessary when war was de-
clared only to telegraph them 10
mobilize in accordance with this
plan-and mobilization was accom-
plished in a few hours. Here is the
document:
e.. =. NAVY DEPARTMENT. e. -.
Strictly Confidential Op-17-D.
Washington, D. =.
March 81, 1917.
FROM: Secretary OF the Navy,
TO:
SUBJECT: Mobilization Plan.
References
ca Chief OF Naval Operations Con-
fidential Letter Of Apr. %,
1916.
OBJ Chief OF Naval Operations Con-
dental Letter OF Dec. II, 1916.
Co Mobilization order No. on
Feb. 3, 1917.
/. The following instructions for
mobilizs ton replace References (a),
OBJ ard (c). Destroy References
Ca. (bl and Co. II either Refer
ence OBJ has not been received, no
report OF that fact need be made.
.. Mobilization sheets viii be pub
lished from time 10 time giving the
organization Of the fleet for war.
bases and other informa-
ton.
3. Whenever new mobilization
sheet for any force IS received the
old mobilization sheet for that force
shall be destroyed. The mobiliza-
ton sheet Tor any force shall remain
in effect until replaced.