The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-27
Railroads Will Be Taxed to
Their Full Capacity.
Drafted Army VIII Begin To
Mobilize on Sept. 5.
5 Per CENT TO move EACH DAY
Railroads Have Big Job To
Avoid Congestion.
Eight Trains Will Have To
Carry 10000 Men.

The first one-third of IN. Kansas
quota of drafted men under the first
call, will be moved to Font Riley dur
ing a five days. period. This plan
was outlined today by Col. n. Neil
Rain. based on advices from WASH
ington. One-fifth of the first mere
ment of men will move September 5.
An equal number will be taken each
succeeding day until one-third of the
quota are in camp.
Railroad congestion is gwen as the
reason for dividing the men into
classes. Under the call by the gov
eminent one-third of the states quota
was ordered to report at Fort Riley
September 5. Now each county will
furnish one-fifth or the men in the
first, class each day until the entire
third of the quota is moved. 1t is
probable that the present plan for
mobilization will require from five to
seven days. Each county will furnish
five per cent of it's men the first day,
an equal number each succeeding day
until one-third. have reported at Fort
Riley. Thus a COUNTY with demand
for 100 men will send five men the
first day and five men during each
of the six succeeding days.
To Prevent Congestion.
Present plans will delay to an eX-
tent the mobilization of men at Fort
Riley. 1t is believed, however, that
the plan will prevent railroad conges-
ton and will result in the prompt
movement of all men called to service.
Many of the buildings for the men
have not been completed and with a
nominal number of men arriving each
day army officers will be able to prop
erly care for the men when they ar
rive at concentration points.
Men from Kansas, Colorado and
Missouri will comprise the troops to
be trained at Fort Riley. The moving
of one-third of these men in five days
means that the railroads in the three
states, and especially those in Kansas,
where the traffic will become more
congested as it nears the mobiliza-
ton point, will face the monster job of
transporting 10000 men during this
period. Not all the 10000 will be
drafted men but the other troop
movements will make up the figure.
To Use 400 Coaches.
Four hundred coaches-fifty men
to the coach-will be necessary to car
ry the 10000 men. Ten coaches will
constitute the average train after suf-
ficient baggage cars have\ been added.
This means a total of forty trains for
the entire 10000 or eight trains a
day.
These figures are, of course, based
on the possibility of the railroads get
ting the maximum service with the
minimum equipment. Because of the
scattered points the amount of equip
ment necessary will be far greater
probably than the above figures show.
Including guards, regulars and
drafted men, the total number of men
to be moved to Fort Riley in the
thirty day, or shorter period, that it
will take to move the entire draft
contingent, will be about $4,000. Fifty
men to car, 1900 passenger coaches
or l20 trains will be necessary.
Officials of Kansas railroads said to-
day that all roads would cooperate
in the troop movement. train start
ing from Hutchinson, for instance. on
one road and later transferring to an
other, will go straight thru to the
reservation without making it neces-
sary for the troops to change trains.
New Orders Received.
kilograms received at the adiutant
generals office late today indicot 20 4
further changes in the movement of
troops. This telegram provided for
5 per cent reporting September 5, with
the next call September 10. The local
army office is deluged with telegra ms
changing previous plans for troop
movement One telegram today COW
cred more than three legal sized type
written pages