The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-11-01

ana llne8men Wanted
AS the United States proceeds
with its military preparations the
public at large has an opportunity
to get a better conception .: the
gigantic scale upon which the con-
flict will be waged. One instance
OF this is in the call which has Just
been sent out over the Middle West
by the War Department, Central
Division from the headquarters at
Chicago. This call states that it
will be necessary to train immed-
lately force of $4,000 telegraph
ers, telephone men and linesmeu
for service with the signal corps.
This may seem an extraordinary
large numbey for such service; but
when one reflects how vastly the
means for communication have mut
tiplied, how trenches must all be
connected with staff headquarters.
how military telegraph and tele-
phone lines must be constantly set
up and repaired, how observation
balloons and airplanes each carry d
wireless operator to transmit in
formation regarding the move
mcnts and positions of the enemy to
officers and gunners, the need will
be comprehcnded.
The allotment of men from each
state is made OH population bas.
is and the War Department has
called upon North Dakota to fur.
nish 300 men trained in the ele-
ments of telegraphy, not counting
allied branches of the signal SER
vice, for which further enlistments
will be required. The task of Sec
uring and instructing these men
has been laid upon the State Coun-
Gil of Defense which is now pre-
pairing to meet the call. The i'm
mediate direction of this work falls
under the control of the Commit
tie on Education of which DR.. H.
R. Rush of the State University il
chairman. In securing the quota
of men there two limitations;
the men must be drawn from the
list of those registered for draft
and must also be able to pass tn.
medical examination as for other
branches of army service. 1t is
not intended to attempt to draw
trained men from the regular SER
vice of the railroads, telegraph
and telephone companies inasmuch
as the regular needs of the coun-
try cannot be denied.
The Council of Defense has al
loted the 300 men to the various
counties of the state according to
the ratio established. instruction
will be begun at a number of
points-Fargo, Grand Forks, Mi
not, Wahpeton, Devils Lake, Will
liston, jamestown. Bismarck and
Dickinson-to each of which IA
certain number of counties are as
signed. This will not prevent
men from any of these counties
from taking work at other centers
where individual preference is ex-
Ipressed. The school will under the
supervision of local Y. NJ. G. AS
telegraph. telephone and railroad
companies will be represented. The
course of study has been outlined
and will be published later. Tt is
intended to extend over approx
mately 20 weeks and will comprise
telcgraphy, telephony and radio
linesman work. Upon the compile
ton of the work certificate will be
given to the student who. upon
presentation of it to the officer in
charge of the ARM camp, will he
corps. The higher educational in
situations Of the state are prepar-
'ng to give those who show special
aptitude more extended work to fit
them for higher positions.
This is a fine chance for any
man liable to draft and, with the
experience gained in actua! ser
vice Tor the government will pro-
vide an excellent opportunity for
a future career when the war is
over.
The counties assigned 10 the
Wahpeton district are. with he
quota for each-Richland no.,
Ransom (5), Dickey (5(. Sargent
90. These numbers are for tcl"-
graphers alone. for whom there is
the chiefest immediate need. They
do not include calls for telephone
men and linesmen. The chairman
for the Wahpeton district is Prof.
Harry s. Rush of the State School
of Science, Wahpeton, N. d., to
whom correspondent may be ad'
dressed and who will forward ell
| rollmanf hlankc ,,non nn,,l;aa4;1.,.