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

l attended meeting of the general board
OF tha 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 American shipping entering
European ports.
In reply. the board reiterated recon-
mendations which It had made on Feb.
I, as follows:
(a) Escort vessels to deep water from
our ports and similarly from deep water
to our ports
Oh Arrange with the British and
French governments for the convoy OF
our merchant ships through the barred
zones.
(c) Merchant ships to proceed on the
high seas from points of leaving and
receiving escorts, depending upon their
guns for protection, and upon changes of
course to follow alternate routes.
(d) Arrange with British and French
governments code Of signals to be used
IN directing merchant ships as to routes
TO be followed and points OF meeting
escorts.
(el Establish a patrol Of the SAtlantic
coast.
~ Recruit up to the limit allowed by
law for emergencies in order to pro
vide crews for patrols and auxiliaries,
and to I'll battleship compliments whiSh
have been depleted.
ALL READY
FOR WAR.
Obviously some Of these recommended
/ lions could not be put into effect until
q state OF war existed. I ordered the
Office Of naval operations to be ready to
act upon them instantly when occasion
arrived.
And now want to give you a docu-
mont which has never been printed be
fore. 1t is the text Of the mobilization
plan sent to every commander of fleets
or vessels and to every district com
maudant. The Brran gements were so
complete In every detail and every com
mander and official knew so well what to
do that it was necessary when war was
! declared only to telegraph them to mo-
Billie in accordance with this plan-and
mobilization was accomplished in few
hours. Here is the document:
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Strictly Confidential. Op-17-D
Washington, u. c.
March 81, 1917.
FROM: Secretary OF the Navy,
TO: Z" -
SUBJECTS; Mobilization Plan.
References -
(a) Chief of Naval Operations Con-
fdentlal Letter Of Apr. 81, 1915.
(b) CHIEF OF Naval Operations Con-
hdential Letter of Dec. II, 1915.
(c) Mobilization Order No. l of Feb.
3, 1917.
/. The following instructions for
mobilization replace References (J,
OBJ and (c). Destroy References Ia,
(b) and (c). If either Reference (a)
or Reference OBJ has not been re-
/ ceived, no report Of that fact need
/ he made.
2 Mobilization sheets viii be published
from time to time giving the organiza-
ton of the fleet far war, fitting out
bases and other Information.
/ 3. Whenever a new mobilization sheet
for any force is received the old moblll.
zation sheet for that force shall be de-
/ stroyed. The mobilization sheet for any
force shall remain In effect until re-
| placed.
| 4. Upon receipt Of the message in Sc
cret code to mobilize for war, every eff
fort shall be made to assemble ships at
the designated rendezvous. at the ear
lest possible date, ready in all re-
| spects for war service.
8. Order of ships in division as well
MS details Of organization not otherwise
provided for shall be prescribed by the
commander in chief or in case of YES
! sells assigned to naval districts. by com
mandants Of naval districts.
6. The following rendezvous are desig
mated for mobilization in case of war in
the Atlantic:
| Battleship Force-Chesaspeake Bay
after April Until theu-as at present.
Scout Force-Division /, Canal zone;
Division .. home yards; division 3, San
/ Francisco; Division 4. Canal zone.
! Patrol Force-As ordered.
| Destroyer Force-With battlesh;p feet
Mine Force-with battleship fleet
Traln--As ordered by train commander.
Submarine Force-New London. Conn
| Atlantic Coast delphia,
| Pa.
Pacific Coast Auxlliaries-As directed
by commander In chief.
Philippine Divisions-As directed by
commander in chief.
Naval District Forces-Each force is
own district units at ports as directed
| by district commandant.
FOR SWIFT
! MOVEMENT.
Z Plans shall be developed by all Of
fcers concerned to provide for, the Ut
most expedition and efficiency of mobi.I-
cation.
s. The assignment Of a vessel to a
navy yard for fitting out shall not be
construed as an order for that vessel tt.
| proceed to the yard designated to strip
and fit out, but as an order to call on
no other than that yard for aid 1 fitting
out for war service, except by spermis-
e3on of Navy nanarfrnant Tia nrir