The Benson signal., 1917-02-17
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
ence to Lead Men
Properly.

WaShington.-The war college di-
vision of the general staff of the Unit
ed States army has complete plans
prepared for the mobilization of a citi-
zens' 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 frSt-clasS power.
These plans were based, it is said, up
on 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, sit has hereto
fore been assumed that in the event OF
a war with a frst-class power the
United States would require not less
than half 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
tional defense is conditionally placed"
SUDJGCG TO FFGSlQGIIS , Odlls
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
ganized and maintained only during
the existence or imminence of war,
and only after congress shall have au-
thorized the president to raise such
forces. Congress could, however, by
legislative enactment, authorize the
president to raise such forces in time
Of 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 will also re-
cite the causes that make the call
necessary and will state that the en-
I listed men shall be taken, as far as
practicable, from the several states,
territories and District of Columbia in
proportion to the respective popula-
tions thereof.
''FOllOWing the call of the president
for volunteers, the secretary of war
notifies the governors, etc., as in call
for militia, informing them of the quo
ia for their respective states, the exist
ing militia organizations that will be
received into the volunteers, the new
organizations that it is desired to
raise, and the maximum and minimum
strength of organizations"
All terms of enlistments, it 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-bodied," and
who is not within the ages stipulated
for that service under the law as 1t
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
of the parent or guardian of that per-
son.
Recruiting, Rendezvous and Depots.
The war college continues:
"With a view to 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-
lished by the secretary of war and
will be directly controlled by him. Here
the recruits will be enlisted and
trained. For the purposes of instruc-
ton and discipline, the troops at the
recruit depots may be organized into
companies and battaliOnS, at the dis
cretion of the secretary of war. The
noncommissioned officers and privates
will be of such grades and numbers as
the president may prescribe.
cit is apparent that the recruits at
the rendezvous and depots are intend
ed to form a reserve battalion for each
regiment or equivalent thereof of reg.
ulars and volunteers only; for the
act also provides that in order to main
tain the land militia organization al
their maximum strength the recruit
rendezvous and depots in any state OF
territory may, at the request Of the
governor thereof, enlist and train re-
cruits for land militia in the service
of the United States from such state
or territory. All the officers required
for such recruit rendezvous and depots
will be volunteers of the proper arm Of
the service.
Appointment of Officers.
GAIL volunteer officers are appointed
by the president, but the number ant
grade of such officers shall not exceed
the number and grade of like officers
provided for a like force of the regu
lar army, and they will be subject t(
such assignment to duty and trans
fers as the president may direct.
"In order that the lives of those
patriotic citizens who may volunteer