The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-12-11
AN ARMY OF FIVE
MILLION WILL Be RAISED
FIGHTING MACHINE OF UNITED
STATES WILL BE HUGE AT
FAIR WHEN ASSEMBLED.
FIRST DRAFT is EXPECTED
TO MOVE AT AN EARLY DATE

Half Million Men in Camp Likely to
Be Sent Elsewhere by Spring and
Vacated Quarters VIII House New
Recruits VIII Draft for Industries.
An army of 100000 men will be
none too small to be used in the war
against Germany, in the opinion of
President Wilson and his chief ad
visers, according to information OBJ
tainable at the national capital. 1t
is understood that the war depart
ment is to submit to congress esti-
mates for an army of 100000 for
the next fiscal year, but the military
authorities are convinced that the to-
tai of Americas fighting machine
will be 100000 if not 100000,
before the great struggle closes.
Preparations consistent with the
increasing magnitude of the nations
war program now are under way at
the war department and have led to
reports of important changes in the
army administration. 1t sstated that
Gen. William Crozier, chief of the
bureau of ordnance, is to be reliev-
ed of his duties and transferred to
a new important post to be created
near the battle line in France, and
that a civilian will be appointed as
his successor.
New Draft of Half a Million.
The next move toward actually in
creasing the nations fighting force
will be the forthcoming draft of $780,
600 men. The delay now is connected
with the accommodation of this adj
ditional force at the existing canton
ments. In general way the new
men will have places available as
soon as the national army, called into
service by the last draft, is ready to
move elsewhere. Present calculations
are to send this force abroad next
spring, and it is safe to assume that
the next men called by the draft will
be ready to take their places at the
environments at that time.
There are no apparent signs of de-
lay in getting the national army
ready for service. The work of train
ing and equipping the men is pro-
crossing with clock-like precision and
according to schedule. Automatic
rifles and machine guns of various
types now are being issued to the
men in camp for instruction pur-
poses, but the bulk supply of these
articles which are to be used in act
ual service will not be available un-
til spring, when the troops will be
ready to make use of them. Such
divisions as are ordered overseas
probably will be equipped from sup
plies in France.
Draftees for Many Industries.
The future plans of the govern
ment will not follow the past proce-
dure of simply calling out man-pow-
er in periodical installments of $780,
600 each, Men probably will be
drafted not only for the military ser
vice but for work on the farms. The
industrial program connected with
the war is quite as important as the
purely military end of the struggle,
and indications now are that labor
difficulties and other obstacles will
necessitate drastic action in order to
keep things working tremendously at
maximum pitch.
The question of draf ,i..s men for
service in the fields and in the factor
les and mines will come up before
the coming session of congress, ac-
cording to the prediction of army
officers who are cognizant of the gov