New-York tribune., 1917-06-02
Supposed Shortage of Can
vas Caused Decision for
Frame Cantonments
Tents Enough for All
Four Camp Sites Already Sc
lected; Mobilization
Not to Lag
From Tie Tribune Bureau

by the War Department would permit
the building of only sixteen OF the
contemplated thirty-two environments
for the seectve draft army of 100000,
the Secretary Of War frankly admitted
to-day tha. important revlsions IN the
plans for training the war army have
been made by the War Department"
Many of the forces must be put under
canvas instead of into frame barracks,
it was said.
As The Tribune reported yesterday,
the War Department asked Congress to
provide S77,OOO.OOO for the new canton
ments. Congress made no objection,
appropriated the money and is now
waiting. Then the War Department
discovered it needed $194,0O0,00O for
the required number of cantonments
Up to to-day, judging by what has
been told to newspaper men in the war
Department, the military experts have
been laborng under a deluslon that
there was a shortage of canvas in the
country. According to Mr.. Bakers ad-
mission to-day, that delusion happily
has been dispelled.
Canvas Enough for Whole Army
There is canvas enough for the whole
draft army, which has caused many
members of the military committees OF
House and Senate to inquire why frame
cantonments are to be built anyway.
Why not save S77,00O,00O?
The department has been advised by
The British and French war missions
70 send our soldiers abroad for train
ing in camps already prepared "withln
sound Of the guns" 1t is expected IN
Washington that the American mill
tary experts will finally come. TO this
when the importance Of speed becomes
apDarent to them. In the meantime All
available funds will be spent TOR as
many frame cantonments as can DC
built for the money.
Lack of funds. material, labor and
transportation facilities, Secretary bak-
or said were determining influences IN
the decision to reduce the number OF
cansonments. The previous plan 10
build thirty-two camps was reached, ne
explained, after Congress had appro-
priated S77.000,000 on the theory that
there would be only sixteen. For
time the larger number seemed prac-
ticable, but that would have made
much greater demand on the overtaKed
resources at the departments COM
mand.
Fouf Camp Sites Selected
Although the change will upset all
the tentative plans for camp locations
made by department commanders, 1t -
not expected. War Department officials
say, TO delay beyond September ] the
mobilization of the great draft army.
Four of the sixteen cantonment sites
provided for under the new plan al
ready have been selected and choice
Of the others is expected soon. Secre-
tarv Baker indicated that building
would proceed as rapidly as possible.
The four sites selected are at Amerl-
can Lake. Wash; Atlanta, Ayre, Mass,
and Wrightstown, y. j.
The supposed canvas shortage was
largely responsible for the original
plan to house the army in wooden bar,
racks. for army officials have preferred
tentinc from the start. Most OF the
tents used probably will be placed at
Southern camps.
In making the announcement Secre-
tary Baker said also shat torces IN eN-
cess Of those which could be cared lot
in the sixteen cantonments would re
placed under canvas. This was taken
as referring to National Guard divls-
ions. although the Militia Bureau has
received no instructions in this regard
There is no indication OF an lhteh
ton to alter the plan for formation OF
sixteen divisions of the Guard. Inc
question of filling these up 10 war
strength probably will not be settled
until selection of men for military ser
vice in the draft army begins.
May Fill Ranks from Draft
II is possible that it will be found
better at that time, If the state forces
have not been recruited to full strength.
10 consolidate into a smaller number Of
divisions. but under the law either the
regulars or Guard can be filled up with
men from the selected lists if that is
desired.
Meantime the National Guard units
Of the Eastern portion of the country
will be drafted into the Federal armies
on July l5 Undoubtedly they will be
put under canvas rs rapidly as dvis-
ional mobilization is ordered, and the
PLAN of training virtually all Guard
divisions in the Southern section of the
country will be adhered to. The Guard
already had a considerable supply OF
tentage, and the machinery of the
Council Of National Defence is at work
endeavoring to secure enough for all
forces with little delay.
All OF the Guard units will have been
drafted into service by August 8. That
does not mean, however, that all will
have been ordered TO divisional train
ing camps at that time. Presumably
the best equipped and recruited forces
will be made ready first for duty
abroad but there has been no an
nounccment as to the process TO be fol-
lowed. More than 10000 Guardsmen
are now engaged in police work, guard
ing bridges factories and other struct-
ures, and that work will have 20 be
ont rfr