Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-05-25

| washington. - In1rty-UVe tnOuSdnu
bright, energetic, earnest young Amer
leans are assembling at II camps, scat
tered throughout the country, to form
the nucleus of Uncle Sans new ar
niles.
From them will be chosen three
months hence the 10000 subalterns
needed for the first army increment
of 100000, who will begin training
about the first of August.
The war department called for the
most experienced natural leaders the
country possesses" to fill the officers
training camps, and high military OFF,
Gals here agreed as TO the fine caliber
of the material obtained.
Every one of the $4,000, besides
passing a rigid physical examination,
is either college graduate or has had
a business career indicating his special
| intelligence, personality and capacity
for organization and inspiring leader
ship.
The $4,000 themselves are picked
men. Even Of those who passed the
requirements only part, those
deemed most promising. can be accom-
modated In the camps. And when II is
considered that only two out of every
seven men attending the camps will be
assigned q post in the new armies at
the close OF the three months grueling
study and drill, it is obvious no drones,
no "boneheads" and no weaklings
physically, mentally or morally, should
get the coveted assignments.
But those who failed to obtain en-
trance TO a camp, or who are not
chosen at the end of the first three
months need not give up hope OF
serving their country as officers. An
other set Of camps. probably larger
than the first, will Immediately follow
these, and the facilities for turning
out leaders for the new troops will be
expanded as America gradually de-
velops the full force of her power.
Have an Advantage.
Many Of the young fellows now at
the mobilization points already have
commissions in the officers reserve
corps, others have had good records in
the National Guard or other military |
organizations, or school training for
war work. These men have an adj |
vantage over the rest, for no one is |
barred from the camps by entire lack
of direct military experience. The |
more experienced, however are most |
likely to get their commissions first.
The rest may attend a second or even
a third camp and then be drafted into
the new armies.
Training In the camps will be In
tensive as possible, but will be severe
ly handicapped by a lack of suitable
instructors. officers of the British and
French armies, some of them wounded,
have been coming back from the west
ern battle front in the last few weeks
and II Is expected the small corps of
regular army instructors at each camp
will be materially assisted by these
veterans, who are fresh from the most
awful struggle In history.
The eyes of the whole nation win
be on these camps, a unique establish /,
ment In American history. Every town {
and almost every village has furnished |
a camp member, and his career will be [
closely watched by his friends and |
relatives. 1
The best account Of how the camps I
will be conducted is given in an order 4
ssued by the adjutant general at S
brigadier general 81. B. S
Mccain. The details will have to be T.
worked out at each camp and 1t will G
e a strenuous business. for minutes {
cunt General Mccain says: 2
During the first month of the e
amp those In attendance will be d. c
fded into Is companies, regardless OF
he arm of the service for which the
Individuals are destined. During this 1,
Month the qualifications of each man d
I'LL be studied, with a view to as N
igning the necessary numbers for fur
her instruction In the separate arms o.
f the service. O,
Selected by Merit. 81
"At the end of the first month men s,
Ill be reassigned In due proportion b.
, as to form nine infantry companies, nj
lree batteries Of artillery, two troops
! cavalry and one company of eDgi- tie