Show iU us S. S WAR PLAN BErNS RUSHED President Taking Steps to Place the Nation on on ona a War Footing National Guard Called Back Into Federal Federal Fed Fed- eral Service and Navy to be Recruited Recruited Re Re- Without Delay to toWar S War Strength Washington President Wilson on March 25 took steps to place the nation na na- na tion Uon on a war footing By executive order he directed ct d that the navy be bo recruited without delay to full authorized war strength of 87 o o enlisted men Taken In con connection I with emergency naval ConstructIon Already 01 Al at ready roody ordered this means that the thep p president has exercised the full limit of his legal full powers as commander commander- chief la-chief to prepare th the navy for war For Pr the army the president directed that thai two new military departments be created in the Atlantic coast region The order means that the task of organizing organizing or- or whatever army congress may authorize will be divided among six departmental commanders Instead of ot four In iri the Interests of of speed and efficiency efficiency ef ef- ef In mobilization The third step was to assume as a national duty the task of ot protecting American Industries from domestic disorders In the event or Hostilities For this purpose eleven full infantry regiments two wo separate battalions and one separate company of the national national national na na- na- na guard were called back Into the federal service to act as national police in Important districts Supplementing these troops a regiment of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Pennsyl Pennsyl- vania guard and two companies of Georgia infantry en route home from the border for muster out were ordered ordered ordered or or- dered retained in the federal service The presidents president's orders were made known in terse official statements Issued Issued Is Is- sued by both departments No explanation explanation explanation nation accompanied d them except the 1 statement that reorganization of the military departments effective May 1 I Iwas was designed to facilitate decentralization of command I |