The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-24
Uncle Sam Could Rely Upon
Large Force OF Men

fulnCss, IL the call came. These are
national guardsmen and ex-natlohai
guardsmen still of military age; ex-
regular army men nov in civil lire;
the majority of the Spanish war vet
Grams and men who have received
training under authorized army OF
ficers i'm universities. There also are
young men drilled under military men
in high and private schools, and en-
United States marines who have had
land training.
Officers of the United States army
admit this would be n highly con-
venient army nucleus in time OF emer-
gency. but the government doesn't
know where any of these men are ex-
cent the national guardsmen.
The National Guardsmen.
Roughly estimated there are $780,
900 national guardsmen and ex-na-
tional guardsmen: over $4,000 army
and navy alumni" between 10000
and 200 1000 Spanish war veterans and
IS. 900 college cadets.
War department figures show there
are now sos officers and 120.693 en-
listed men in the national guard. In
the Spanish war. 223,235 volunteer
officers and enlisted men served. In
the colleges last year. there were 3d.
600 who had drill, and in the last ten
years $4,000 men have been gradu-
ated who had been trained two years.
/ Figures for ten years behind that
easily make up the estimated total OF
10000, army officers say.
Regular Army Alumni.
AS to the regular army alumni, an
, average of 1900 fails to re-enlist
each year. The total for 1914 was
14,349. Even with the loss through
deaths since discharge; incapacita-
tons, removal to other countries and
old age, The figure for twenty years
should be $4,000 to 100000 men.
Recent plans of enlistment i'm the
war department call for three years
with the Colors and four i'm reserve.
Before that. once n mans term of en-
listment was up, the government gave
no more attention TO him.
Washington, December 16-An army
Of educated engineers. hardened to the
! rigors of out door work at all seasons
| Of the year, an army that will show
resistance 10 the food forces of the
Mississippi valley In time of high
water and prevent disaster, an army
which will develop and enrich the
country, this is the sort of an army
, that is advocated by Senator Works
! OF California. The senator declares
that such an army would not only do
away with the condition CT unprepar-
cdness for wa, but would also obviate
the danger of creating military
caste. The senator said this country
wanted an army of useful workers,
not one of idlers.
Sofa, December ia neutral zone
extending two kilometers on each side
of the frontier has been agreed upon
between Greece and Bulgaria. &C
I Cording to an official announcement
made there.
Toxic, Japan. December 16.-In an
informal note to Pekin today. the new
| emperor. Yuan Shi Kai. was informed
that Japan would watch vigilantly the
affairs of China, following on the
change from a republic TO a non
archy. This is the first note that has
come from Japan to the Chinese gov
eminent since the change was made.
1t is believed that Emperor Yuan ShI
Kai will accept the note in friendly
spirit. III
John A. Henry. editor of The James
vile Argus. says: "A ride to Man
kato on Thursday the ninth. disclosed
the fact that the public highways are
in better condition for auto travelling
than has been the case at any prcIi-
Gus period during the entire year.
They are hard apd smooth and there
are no places That obstruct perfect
travelling whatever. Moreover the
weather was so moderate on the day
mentioned as to make a trip OF that
kind especially enjoyable. And then
there is something peculiarly fasci-
mating on account of the crisp atmos
phere and the denuded sleeping SOM
b-e landscape that at this period ap-
peals to the Imagination and that sug
lgests to mortal vision resurrection and
| life beyond To mortal sense life had
disappeared but truth proclaimed that
II would spring forth again crowned
with the glories of beautifisd exist
Icncc. Truly there is something won
derfully inspiring i'm the contempla-
on of these truths as brought forth
in a Measurable ride OF this descrip-
ton at this time of the year"
School District No. 10, Lake Crystal,
is to be enlarged. The county COM
missioners so decided this morning.
Parts OF districts Z, so, 100 and us are
to be taken. But no part OF District
| No. 155 is TO be detached therefrom.
IL was also decided to leave the south
east quarter of section Q and the north
east quarter OF serticn l6 in District
| No. 106.
Yesterday after7oon the board took
up the adjourned hear,:g on a petit
ticn for a change of road I'm section
36, Mankato township. After some
discussion on the part of several in
|terested property owners, the matter
was again deferred.
| A petition for change OF the
county road In Shelby. signed by A.
III. Luedtkc and others. By o motion
the date for hearing was set for
Saturday afternoon. Feb. Is. 1916. The
! Ill board was appointed as a COM
mittee thereon. This committee Is TO
l @. H.