Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-16
DANIELS TELLS HOW
QUICKLY NAVY WAS
PLACED ON WAR BASIS
Continued from page 1


the United States. Hawaii, Alaska,
Guam and the Philippines, to bar oil
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 ma
ture useful to the potential enemy |
reaching German ears.
Tho shiDs we had maintained along |
the coast to enforce neutrality regula- |
tions we're increased in number, and
this consideration for neutrality now
became a consideration for our own
safety and a virtual coast patrol was
established.
Wilson Keeps Close Watch.
The President watched every step
during these days with closest attention.
lie was not satisfied with general re-
ports on what was being done.
The Monday following the break In
diplomatic relations he appeared sud
denly in my office. 1 was hard at work
on plans. reports and orders. / told
him what / had done, and what | was
doing.
lie suggested we go together to the
war department. The Secretary of War
was there. and the three Of us spent
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
relations did not necessarily mean war,
but it brought us so close to the possi-
bility we must put our house In order
and be ready for any emergency
He was concerned about the personnel
in our respective departments.
Each of you must surround your
selves with the ablest men you have"
he said. and, turning to me. he asked
whether 1 felt that my immediate ad-
visers-the chief of naval operations,
the chiefs of bureaus and the officers
in important commands afloat-were
the right ones to retain in these posi-
itons
sect and Keep the Rest"
They are the best in the navy" 1
told him
He asked the same question of Sec
rotary Baker. and he replied that his
men knew their jobs. ana were going
| ahead with them. Some We're neces-
sarily slated for early retirement, but
to anticipate this. he thought, would
bc unwise. occasioning needless alarm
and disturbing morale.
The President listened intently TO us.
and reiterated his desire that only the
ahlest. most alert and energetic men
I should be put in places Of responsible
ity,
Get and keep the best" he said. as
our conference ended.
W. continued SaxrpIprinc~ pttr Tnla
/ along the indicated lines, on the same
I day the order was issued mobilizing
/ communications ] had sent dispatch
! requiring every ship Of the three fleets
/ -AtlautiC, Pacific and AsiaUc-to re-
/ port Immediately on its readiness for
( war The condition of the ship. guns
machinery and personnel. together with
/ what repairs or additions might be
needed. were imperative matters for in
=! formation. AS result OF this dis
patch we knew very quickly precisely
where We stood, and were able to meet
promptly and effectively the conditions
which required attention and remedy.
Events Move Rapidly.
/ After the cabinet meeting Of March
! 20. when decision was reached that Con-
( gross should be asked TO declare war,
/ Admiral Mayo had notified me that
I he PLANNED to bring his gunnery exer-
I Clses and naneuVers 10 an end by April
;. and to start north for home waters,
(. We were anxious TO interfere as little
I as possible with the important practice
work of Cuba, but when il was settled
beyond reasonable doubt that we were
7 to become a belIigerent, we decided 70
call the Atlantic feet northward at
once. So. following the March goth
meeting, I dispatched an order which
headed the fleet for Hampton Roads
Plans TO Protect Shipping.
That same afternoon. accompanied by
Admiral Benson. chief OF naval opera
tions. I attended a meeting Of the gen
eral board Of the navy. and asked the
board. in the name of the President, 10
draft at once recommendation for some
means more effective than that Of
armed guards for protecting American
shipping entering European ports.
In reply, the board reiterated recon-
Inendations which il had made on Feb
/. as follows:
(a) Escort vessels to deep water from
our ports, and similarly from deep water
to our ports.
(b) 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 theil
guns for protection. and upon changes
Of course TO follow alternate routes.
Id Arrange with British and French
governments a code Of signals TO bt
used in directing merchant ships as Il
routes 10 be followed and points o
meeting escorts.
(e) Establish a patrol of the Atlantis
coast.
(f) Recruit up TO the limit allowed b,
law for emergencies in order to provid
crews for patrols and auxiliaries, and L
fiji battleship compliments which have
been depleted.
All Ready for War.
Obviously some Of these recommends
tions could not be put into effect unit
| a state of war existed. / ordered the of
fee Of naval operations to be ready Il
act upon them instantly when occasion
arrived.
And now l want TO give you a docu
ment which has never been printed be
fore. 1t is the text of the mobilization
plan sent to every commander of fleet
or vessels and to every district comman
l dan4 The a rra rggernenfs were So com