The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-02-23
PLAN MOBILIZATION
OF CIVILIAN ARMY
War College Heads Prepare for
Handling of Great VOL
unteer Force.
RAPID TRAINING PROPOSED
Special Attention Given TO Selection of
Officers Qualified by Expert
enee to Lead Men
Properly.


vision of the general stan of the Unit
ed States army has complete plans
prepared for the mobilization OF citi-
Gems army. These plans were com
pleted some time ago in anticipation
of the time when the United States
might be called upon to enter into
hostilities against a first-class power.
These plans were based, It Is said. up
IN the possibility that the first call
for volunteers might be for 100000
men. The war college recently pre-
pared an official paper dealing with
the raising of volunteer army.
Under existing laws and under con-
tempOraneous conditions Herewith"
says the war college, ut has hereto
fore been assumed that In the event OF
war with a first-class power the
United States would require not less
than half a million of men for the first
line, behind which could be prepared
the greater army of citizen soldiers
upon whom our main reliance for ma
aonal defense is conditionally placed"
Subject to Presidents Call.
The organization of volunteer
armies can only be undertaken follow
ing the presidential proclamation
stating the number needed, and on
this subject the war college says:
Volunteer forces may be raised, or
yanized and maintained only during
the existence or imminence of war,
and only after congress shall have au-
lhorized the president to raise such
forces. Congress could, however, by
legislative enactment, authorize the
president to raise such forces In time
X peace,
When so authorized, the president
will issue his proclamation, stating the
number Of men desired for each arm,
corps, or department, within such linn
It's as may be fixed by law. 1t Is prob
able that the proclamation viii also re-
lite the causes that make the call
necessary and will state that the en-
listed men shall be taken, as far as
practicable, from the several states,
territories and District of Columbia In
proportion to the respective populR-
lions thereof.
Following the call Of the president
Tor volunteers, the secretary OF war
notifies the governors, etc, as In a call
FOR militia, informing them OF the quo
Ia for their respective states, the exist
4 ing militia organizations that will be
received into the volunteers, the new
organizations that II is desired to
raise, and the maximum and minimum
strength of organizations"
All terms of enlistments, 1t is point.
ed out, will be the same as that for
the regular army, exclusive of reserve
| periods" and no person can be en-
listed for the volunteer forces "who
IS not effective and able-bodled," md
who is not within the ages stipulated
FOR that service under the law as it
exists at the time OF the presidents
call. Neither can any man be en-
listed who does not speak the English
language, while persons under eight
cen years Of age can be accepted only
with the signed approval and consent
IF the parent or guardian OF that per
son.
Recruiting, Rendezvous and Depots.
The war college continues:
with a view tn recruiting and main
tanning all organizations of the land
forces as near their prescribed
strength as practicable, the necessary
rendezvous and depots will be estab-
ished by the secretary of war and
viii be directly controlled by him. Here
the recruits viii be enlisted and
trained. For the purposes of instruc-
don and discipline. the troops at the
recruit depOts may be organized into
companies and battalions. at the dis
erection Of the secretary of war. The
aoncommissioned officers and privates
Vill be Of such grades and numbers as
the president may prescribe.
ut is apparent that the recruits at
the rendezvous and depOts are intend
I'd to form a reserve battalion for each
regiment or eQuivalenG thereof of reg
ulars and volunteers only: for the
act also provides that In order 20 main
tain the land militia organization at
their maximum strength fhe recruit
rendezvous and depOts IN any state or
territory may, at the request Of the
governor thereof. enlist and traiR re-
srults for land militia in the service
II the United States frOm such state
" territory. All the officers required
for such recruit rendezvous and dapots
win be volunteers Of the proper arm Of
the service.
Appointment Of 0ffinerh
"Al volunteer officers are appointed
- the president. but the number and
grade sf such officers shall not exceed
he number and grade Of like officers
provided for 4 Ike force Of the regu-
lar army. and they will be subject TO
such assignment 10 duty and trans
oerH as the president may direct.
In order that the lives Of those
patriotic citizens who may volunteer
TOR service may be safeguarded and
conserved and not risked under per
sons lacking In experience in the care
u soldiers IN camp and In battle, the