Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-04-18
SOON TO CALL HALF MILLION.
Volunteers VIII BE Enrolled for Du.
ration Of the Present War.


enlisting in the regular army or the
national guard in the present emer-
gency were assured, in an announce
ment by Secretary Baker to-day,
that they would be kept in service
only for the period Of the war. The
act'oh Followed conference be-
tween the Secretary and President
Wilson.
IN effect this places on a war time
volunteer basis all the men enlisted
since the state OF war was declared.
1t makes available a total of 517,-
SGS places in the enlisted grades of
the two services to men who wish to
serve for the war only.
Mr.. Baker stressed the fact that
this action was contemplated when
the administration bill was framed
and was in no way to be construed
as a compromise plan, reached as a
result Of opposition to the draft fea-
ture Of the bill.
Stands by War Measure.
In fact the Secretary pointed out
that the net result Of the application
Of the war enlistment plan would he
TO leave the nation without an army
or any sort, regular or national
guard, If the war lasted beyond the
enlistment terms of men now in
| these services. The whole force
would then be discharged and the
administration apparently expects
that a new peace time military pol
icy. founded on universal service.
Will have been enacted by that time.
1t has been emphasized that the ad-
ministration war army bill is only
| an emergency measure.
Il stand firmly and unalterably in
! support Of that bill," Secretary Ba-
ker said, without modification of
its least detail"
Forces Proposed by Bill.
Following is tabulation by the
department of the forces proposed to
be organized in the bill so arranged
| as to show the exact number Of vol
| unteers, to serve for the duration of
the war only, for which provision is
made in both the regular army and
the national guard:
Regular, exclusive Of Philippine
scouts:
At war strength, with all incre-
ments added, $4,000. Present
strength, 131,4s1; volunteers re-
quired, 161,519.
National guard-including only
units now organized-:At war
strength, 329,954; present strength,
123,605: volunteers required, 2O6,-
349.
Additional: To replace 10000
officers and men withdrawn from
above force as training personnel for
first 100000 selective corscript,
10000.
Total number of volunteers for
| war service only 517,S6S.
In addition to these figures the
discharge from the regular army and
national guard of men with depend
ent relatives and for other causes will
create additional vacancies, which
will be filed by volunteers.
Discharges ut End Of War.
Under the law the full enlistment
requirement Of six years in the ma
tional guard and seven years in the
regular service, must be signed by
all men taken into either service.
The pending bill provides specifically
for duration Of the war enlistment
contracts, but this cannot be applied
until Congress acts. To meet the
Immediate situation the Secretary
has directed that recruiting officers
assure men accepted during the
emergency that the contracts will not
be enforced against them, but that
they will be honorably discharged at
the close OF the war.
The door Of promotion is wide
open to any man qualified to hold
commission even up to the grade of
general officer, for the places of the
$4,000 officers alone to be withdrawn
from the existing services Of training
purposes will be filled from the Off
GERS reserve corps, from the ranks,
or from the many officers training
camps to be esta blished.
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