The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-12-14
Adj. Gen. Read Of War De-
partment Sends Letter to
Cape Girardeauan.
OUTLINES PLAN TO
GET 100000 MEN
POstmasters Will be Asked to
Recruit Soldiers During
Next Twelve Months.


rank for service during the Spanish
American war, yesterday received
word from Adjutant- General Read Of
the War Department that he is quail
fled for appointment as q commission
ed officer of the United States volun-
teers.
! The Adjutant- General outlined in
great the detail the War Departments
determination to bring the army up
10 the requirements of the National
Defense Act, approved by Congress
and President Wilson last June.
The War Department, Major Houck
was told, must be increased 100000
within the next ~ months. One of
the unique features Of the new FEEDER
al military law is that it authorizes
postmasters of the second, third and
fourth classes, TO act as recruiting
agents for the War Department. For
each applicant recruited by a post
master and enters the service OF the
arr y, the postmaster gets s..
Adiutant- General Read said that an
effort would be made TO induce the
$4,000 postmasters in the United
States to get two recruits each within
The next twelve months. If this can
he accomplished, it will give the stand
ing army the number Of men required
By the new act.
IN his letter to Major Houck, Adj
'ifau:-General Read says:
"In general, it may be said that the
Regular Army offers to any man un-
der 80 years of age a clean, healthful.
active, outdoor life and 4 mans work
and sponsibilities. To a considerable
number, it offers a suitable permanent
position, with retirement and a COM
Portable income for life after so years
Of honorable service. To many others,
the army offers an opportunity for ar
education and training which will fit
them for service in time of war, and
at the same time prepare them for the
successful pursuit Of civil avocations
at the expiration of 4 short term Of
service. Opportunity is also offered
all enlisted men Of suitable age, after
one years service, to compete for ap-
pointment to the West Point Military
Academy or for appointment as pro-
bational second lieutenant in the
Regular Army. There are more than
100000 youths in the United States
under 81 years of age, who would be
eligible for service in the army II
able to meet the physical, mental, and
moral qualifications for enlistment.
Unfortunately statistics show that not
to exceed one million of this number
you'd be able to meet the require
ments. But with respect to the mil
lion capable of passing the examina-
ton for enlistment, it may be said that
each would be greatly benefited by
period of military training.
These young men are at the pc
Rod of life when they are ending their
school days and are upon the point
of settling down to their permanent
pursuits in civil life. Each Of them
could devote from one to three years,
with advantage, to training in the
great military school Of the nation
the Regular Army.
Thousands of business men and
students from all parts of the country
have been willing and anxious to at
tend the annual training camps at
Plattsburg and elsewhere, at their
own expense, for the benefit derived
from the military training given at
those camps. Those who have attend
ed are unanimous in admitting the
benefit derived from such training, but
realize that the period is too short.
"Under the National Defense Act.
enlistment in the Regular Army, be-
ginning Nov. 1, 1916, is for seven
years. Three years are in active serv-
ice and four years in the reserve. But
any man who is serving in an organi-
zation stationed in the continental
United States, may be furloughed to
the reserve after one year Of honorable
service, if his immediate commanding
officer shall report him as proficient
and sufficiently trained. Any man who
enlists with view to qualifying for
the reserve at the end of a years
service, will be assigned, should he so
desire, to an organization serving
within the continental limits at the
time of his assignment. In time Of
peace. this will practically assure fur
Tough to the reserve, if desired, at the
expiration Of one years service, to all
men who have become proficient"