Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-20
NATIONAL ARMY :.
IS M0b|L|z|NG
Work Is Being Carried on
Smoothly All over the Uni.
ted States.
SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM.
Congress II Asked TO Provide IN Ex-
ira s2s7 .41e.oOo to Provide Equip.
ment for 3,sO0,o0O Men.

Washington, Sept. 19.-whilo mobfliza.
ton Of tho first major increment Of the
national army was proceeding to-dny
throughout tho country Secretary Baker
and the chiefs of the war department
appeared before the Senate appropriation
committee to present requests for an adii-
tional $2S7,416.000 with which to provide
equipment for a total force of $500 Oo)
men.
Included among the items Is the ordnance
equipment for the next 100000 men Of the
national army, although the 100000 or
more men on the move to-day toward the
training cantonments are only half Of tho
first CALL
PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY.
Dispatches from all parts Of the coun-
try indicated that mobilization was being
carried on smoothly and amid scenes of
popular enthusiasm. The national army
men were given a tremendous send-oT as
they trooped to their trains led by the
local board officials. who found them
qualified to join the ranks Of the nations
defenders. Almost 45 per cent. of the fire.
call force of $500 men will be under mill
tary control and training by Saturday.
Every essential for the health and COM
fort Of the men has been provided for.
They will be fed and sheltered without
difficulty and their arms. uniforms and
the balance Of their war equipment will
be ready for them as rapidly as they are
ready to use it,
BUSY DAYS AHEAD. ..
There are busy days ahead at the can
| tonments Not only must the men be /ex-
amined by military doctors and finally
accepted for army service but they must
be organized Immediately into provisional
| n a n n ar fni OF n
and to make possible the final assignments
to the infantry. cavalry or artillery. or
to the special corps Of the army. The
qualifications of each man are to be noted
and his ultimate duty as far as practicable
will bear some relations to the training
he has received in civil life and his own
Iinclinations.
All this will take time. Time also will
be required to determine what men of
the National army are to be transferred
to the National Guard divisional camps
! to fill those divisions to fighting strength.
The organization of the companies, battal.
lions, regiment or other units Of the Ma
tional army itself cannot be completed
until this transfer has been made.
UNIFORMS NOT ESSENTIAL.
Pending the time when the fighting
forces of the national army begin &c
take shape. 1t is not essential that full
, uniform equipment be available for
every man assembled at the camps
l Preliminary instruction in tho schoo!
, of a soldier. which teaches men how
f to stand and walk and the bearing
D and department Of trained and dis.
Il. ciplined fighting man, can we'll enough
, be given in citizens clothes If neces.
sary.
). Many Of the young reserve officers
hn 70 nd tntf nf ha n
: tional army are not now at the cah.
r tonments. For additional training
t after their graduation from the Of
I ficers' training camps, some have beet
g attached to national guard units
Others are at service schools prepar
9 ing to become instructors to the bat
!! teries. machine gun companies, sigma
battalions and all tho other highl.
l. specialized arms Of the service.
:, Regular officers assigned to com
mand regiments Of the national arm.
II are looked on somewhat enviously b.
y their comrades who remain with tn
: regulars or go to the national guard
1t is a common expression among thes
:. officers that the task of training tn
8 absolutely new force is an inspiring on
to a man who likes to see his compan,
% troop or battery develop from day to da,
The national army men are all nearly o
" an age. They have no old theories of sol
= derng to unlearn. They are ready to pu
all the vim of their youth immediately int
l the lessons Of to-day from the battl
'' fronts.
Freedom from old prejudices or fror
internal political factions which bese
some guard organizations. and man
!. other things also are on the side Of III
n new army. There are many officers VIII
5. believe It will become. a. q fighting fore
a the finest body Of troops u the world.