The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-04
GREAT ARMIES FOR FRANCE,
GOVERNMENT MAKING READY
TO REINFORCE PERSHING.
State Troops Will be Gathered I'm
Camps I'm South and West to Pre-
pare for Battle.

rom NAL. Gen. Pershing on the
landing of American troops in France
still were lacking tonight and the
personal accounts Of newspaper COR
respondents of the scenes at the
French port again were held up to
wait on official information. Arm,
officials maintained complete silence
as to the expedition or as to plans for
future movements of troops to sup.
port the advance guard.
Marine corps officers were eager to
learn whether the regiment of sea
soldiers under Col. Doyen, which
formed part Of the initial force, was
first to land. The marines generally
are proud Of their record Of be,ng
first In the field and are hopeful that
1t has been sustained in the first dis
patch of American forces to fight in
the old world.
1t appeared possible TODAY that q
full marine brigade eventually would
be sent to France to work as q unit
Of Gen. Pershing's army. With the
corps raised 10000 men, enough
for brigade could be spared and
officers and men want to get to the
lighting front.
Preparation Of the great forces
that are to support those already dis.
patched are moving steadily ahead
both in the army and navy. An
today that when the Ma
tional Guard is drafted into federal
service and mobilized. 1t will be sent
at once to the divisional training
camp sites In the Southeastern,
Southern and Western departments,
was another step on the road. There
has been much speculation and no
announcement what
ever as to the use to be made of the
National Guard. The existing units
and those new ones that are ready
for federal inspection and recogni-
tion comprise the SKELETON of 16 in.
fantry divisions. Under present dis
tribution by states, however, there
would not be more than four or five
divisions complete enough to deserve
that name.
1t seems likely that redistribution
and consolidation Of the force must
be undertaken soon after 1t passes
into the federal service under the
draft clause Of the national defense
act. Probably IL or more complete
infantry divisions could then be or
ganixed. Certainly that number
could be completed with the cavalry
employed dismounted. as is now
planned. and used as provisi onal in
fantry regiments. At full war
strength the existing regiments woull
represent q total force Of probably
$4,000 men. OF that number at
least one-third are fairly we'll season
ed troops who already have had six
or eight months Of intensive instruc.
tion and active. continuous service on
the border.
In the judgment of army officials,
this will furnish a spelndid nucleus
to train the new men and insure tho
rapid passage Of the entire force
through the elementary stages of its
military education. The fact that
the guard camps are to be of canvas
seems to indicate that 1t Is not ex-
pected to keep them in training on
this side Of the water for very ex-
tended period.
Additional training for numerous
guard artillery units soon will be in
progress also at the various officers
training camps. At least q battalion
OF field artillery has been ordered to
each camp in order that the artillery
officer candidates for the National
army may have the means of learn
Ing the things they must later teach
to the new forces. In the process
valuable training will be given to the
guard battalions.
The greatest problem that faces the
war department is to find supplies for
tho steadily increasing host Of Ma
tional Guardsmen which moves to the
camps some time in July
or August. State officials have been
notified that 1t Is impossible to fiji re-
questions for new equipment that
nave been pouring in. The first force
10 be made ready must be the regular
army; expanded to- 300. .OOe. The Of
hcers' training camps. where $4,000
men are under arms. also have alb
sorbed an enormous quantity OF re-
serve eQuipment