The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-06-28
100000 MEN VOLUNTEERED
IN II. S. ARMY AND NAVY
Promotion From Ranks To Be Given
YOlunteers-0ur Forces Are Well
Equipped for Service in France.

Washington, June 24.-More than
half a million men have volunteered
in the American army and navy dur
ing the period of less than three
months that have elapsed since war
was declared to exist
The army, navy and national guard
represented an aggregate strength of
little more than 100000 men when the
war resolution was adopted. Today
between 100000 and 100000 are en-
rolled and the great majority of them
are armed, equipped and under train
ing. They viii be joined ct the end of
the summer by nearly million men
selected for the new national army.
The regular army totaled a little
more than 100000 men three months
ago; it is nearing the 100000 mark
today, and war department officials,
backed by the press of the country,
are bending every effort to bring it up
to 100000 during the present week.
The national guard, 10000 strong
when war came, numbers nearly 260,-
900 today and nearly $4,000 are ac-
tually under arms, guarding against
German plotters and doing the job
thoroughly.
The marine corps has been raised
from $1,000 to nearly 10000 men.
The regular bluejacket force of the
navy has been raised from less than
10000 to 10000. The boys of the
country have thronged to the navy in
such numbers that recruiting stations
could not be built fast enough to ac-
commodate them.
An entirely new force Of railway
engineers for duty in France has been
created, and some of the regiments
are now at full strength and ready to
go. Probably 10000 men have al
ready joined this regiment.
Forty thousand picked men are I'M
der strenuous training at the officers
training camps, insuring good junior
officers for the national army. Other
thousands are doing their share at
the medical corps training camps and
still others are with the naval coast
defense reserve, keeping the Atlantic
coast free from the submarine men
ace.
The immediate need, administration
officials believe, is to bring the regular
army to its full strength without de-
lay. These are the first line troops,
the men who will be the first Ameri-
cans to face the German hosts. They
will be the bone and sinew Of Gen.
Pershing's army, and there must be
no delay in getting them ready to go.
President Wilson has designated the
present week as recruiting week for
the regulars. Secretary Baker has
sought the aid of all newspapers to
the end that 10000 men shall be en-
rolled before June 30. No explana-
ton of the need for getting the men
by that time has been given, but it has
been assumed that it has to do with
getting forces to Europe.
Recruiting officers throughout the
country have been instructed to advise
with the editors of the newspapers in
their section to work out ways of
stimulating interest.
Gen. Mccain directed attention to
the fact that after the second series of
officers training camps has closed, the
only road to promotion will be from
the existing forces. Men in the regu-
lar regiments will have equal, if not
better, chances for securing commits
sions than men in the national guard
or the national army, They will be
of longer experience and will be first
to be sent to France.