Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-04-16
EVENTS DURING DRAMATICD DAYS
ASAMERICA PREPARED FOR WAR
Former Secretary Daniels Makes Public
Messages That Mobiles the Navy
to Stand By for Action.

before. 1t is the text of the mobilZa-'
ton plan sent to every commander
of fleets or vessels and to every dis
trict commandant. The arrangements
were so complete in every detail. and
every commander and official knew so
we'll what to do, that it was neces-
sary when war was declared only to
| telegraph them to. mobilize in ac-
cordance with the phn-and mobiliZa-
ton was accomplished in a few hours.
Here is the document:
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Strictly Confidential.
Washington. ID. c..
March 81. 1917.
From: Secretary of the Navy.
Subject: Mobilization Plan.
References:
! (a) Chief of Naval Operations Con-
fidential Letter of Apr. 81, 1916.
! lb) Chief of Naval Operations Con-
fidential Letter of Dec. IL, 1916.
| <c) Mobilization Order No l, of
! Feb. 5, 1917
! i. The following instructions for
mobilization replace References (a).
CD and (c). Destroy References Ga,
/ CO and (c). If either Reference (a)
or Reference CD has not been re-
SSiSSu, III IcpOIl lHdl TACT neeO De
made.
2. Mobilization sheets will be pub
! lished from time to time giving the
/ organization of the fleet for war. fit
ting-out bases and other informa ton.
d. whenever new mobilization
sheet for any force is received the old
mobilization sheet for that force shall
( be destroyed. The mobilization sheet
for any force shall remain in effect
! until replaced.
4. Upon receipt of the message in
secret code to mobilize for war. every
| EFFORT shall be made to assemble ships
at the designated rendezvous. at the
| earliest possible date. ready in all
respects for war service.
b. Order of ships in divisions as
well as details of organization not
otherwise provided for shall be pre-
scribed by the chief,
! or, in case of vessels assigned to
naval naval districts. by commandants of
g. The following rendezvous are
designated for mobilization in case
! OF war in the Atlantic:
Battleship force-Chesapeake Bay
after April 5. Until then-as at
Scout force-Division I. Canal
zone; division 2. home yards: divf-
sion 3. San Francisco; division 4,
Canal Zone.
Patrol force-AS ordered
Destroyer force-With battleship
|, Mine force-With battleship fleet.
Traln-As ordered by train COM
mander.
Submarine force-New London,
Conn.
Atlantic coast Observation-Disclosures
adelphia, Pa.
Pacific coast auxiliaries-As direct
ed by commander in chief.
Philippine divisions-As directed by
commander-in-ch chief.
Naval district forces-Each force
in own district units at ports as di-
rected by district commandant.
For Swift Movement.
Z: Plans shall be developed by all
ofhcers concerned to provide for the
mobilization.
3. The assignment Of vessel to a
navy yard for fitting out shall not be
construed as an order for that vessel
to proceed to the yard designated to
strip and fit out. but as an order to
aid in fitting out for war service, ex-
cept by permission of Navy Depart
ment. The principal mission of each
vessel shall be to arrive at it's desig-
mated rendezvous or at it's war sta
ton ready for war service in the
shortest possible time. The secondary
mission Of each vessel, in case vessels
are ordered to strip Ship shall be to
store its surplus supplies. equipment
and material resulting from stripping
ship at the navy yard assigned on the
mobilization sheet. The method of
accomplishing these missions is left
to the joint discretion of the COM
mandants or flag officers or COM
| manding officers concerned Vessels
shall not strip unless ordered to do
when nnnhi1iyofinn iS
9. When the requirements of YES
sells as to personnel, material, facil-
tiles or repairs. in fitting out for
war service: conflict, they shall be
given precedence in the alphabetical
order Of their assigned precedence
letters.
Must Report Promptly.
10. Upon receipt Of message "Alnav
availability" reports shall be made
officer designated on the mobiliza-
tion sheet of the estimated earliest
date when each vessel could be ready
in all respects, so far as material is
concerned. for war purposes. These
reports shall, for each vessel. consist
sage "Alnav availability" calls for
report, but should never be construed
as an order to take any steps what
ever towards mobilization.
II. comments ana suggestions use
full in perfecting the mobilization plan
outlined in the mobilization sheets
and in this letter are requested.
IL. Acknowledge this letter by
radio or wire.
AS matter Of fact, the drafting and
issuance of this mobilization program
had been anticipated in the Navy De-
partment by almost a year. 1t was
Immediately after the sinking of the
Sussex-April 81. 1916, to be specific
that a mobilization plan was first
sent to the fleets. This was refer
ence (a)" the destruction Of which is
ordered above. The thrilling days of
the Sussex crisis-which carried US
to the very brink of war and were
more thrilling for US in Washington
than the general public knew-make
story in themselves which I intend
to tell
Copyright, 1921. by John F. Ollie. Copy
right by National Newspaper Service. Copy
, right in Great Britain Canada and throughout
Europe. All rights reserved. including trans
laton into foreign languages. including the
Scandinavian. Unauthorized reprinting for
any purpose forbidden.
(Another article by former Secre-
tary Daniels will be printed in The
Star tomorrow.)