Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-05-04
EXTENSIVEPLANS
FOR new ARMY
United States Will Need 100000
Additional Officers To Drill
Million Men, Ridgid EXami-
nation For Those Who Apply
Training Camps Near
Washington.

others, who possibly have not had
opportunity to thoroughly acquaint
themselves with the details of our
army and navy preparations, an in
terview has been secured with Adju-
tant General w. w. Sales, and with
Major Allen Potts, and other high
officials in this city, outlining the
plans that are on foot for equipping
fighting force for the United States
which will enter the Worlds War to
bring to an early end the oppression
of an ill-fated autocracy.
In short, the preparations are re-
volving themselves to a very concise
point. 1t has been realized with Ger
taiHtly that the "reat need just at
this time is two fold: Men to equip
navy, and Officers to drill an army.
President Wilson has authorized in
tensive recruiting to bring the navy
at once to $1,000 men strength, and
to place this first line of defense on
a firm fighting basis.
Secondly, it is said that 10000
officers will be required to engage
the army Of the first million men,
and these officers are exceedingly
scarce. AS remedy for this, all over
the country training camps for Off
GERS are to be installed this month,
and men are to be selected volunta-
rily on their merits. The camp that
affects Virginians most intimately
is to be located at the army post,
Fort Myer. near Washington. This
will open on May ID, and $500 men
These men are gathered by volun-
teering for the service, and passing
rigid examinations, physical and men
tai. With each application there must
be three letters of endorsement from
citizens who have been closely i'm
touch with the applicant. Former
military training will be an asset,
but will not be required.
The physical examination in this
branch is rigid. Men must be almost
pefect physically if they wish to Sc
cure an appointment. All the appli-
cations, with the report Of the med
the Commanding General of the Eas-
tern Department. at Governors Is
land, New York, and will be gone
over there. Men will be weeded out
above the $500 mark, and only the
best qualified in this number will be
selected. Reports state that the g.
800 mark has already been reached.
Arriving at Fort Myer, the success
full applicants will be put through
three months intensive military train
ing, which will include not only tho
rough physical drill. but much men
tai work as well. At the end of three
months, the boys will stand another
examination, physical, military and
mental, and those successful will be
commissioned as second lieutenants.
After the period of the war they will
be placed on the officers reserve list,
for call case of future trouble. When
this $500 has finished an ther COM
plement will be sent to the same camp
and those already trained will take
charge Of groups of raw men recruit
cd under the conscription, or selec-
tive draft plan. In this way an ar
my will be raised. AS to when they
will see service, opinion is divided.
1t is almost universally conceded that
the national guard units will be sent
across the ocean within few months
a small group at time, and will go
into intensive training on the battle
front.
In the navv recruits must stand a
more rigid examination than for the
army. In the latter, for instance,
mans weight must not be less than
120 pounds. In the navv. he must
weigh 128. And SO on, in all partic-
ulars. The navy is recognized as the
recognized further that an inefficient
man in any position there will be
worse than no man at all.
When the naval recruit is signed
mp. he is sworn into the service of
this country and sent on to one of
the numerous naval training camps
or schools. There is one in Newport
News, and in one in Norfolk. At
every large seaport one is to be found.
About three months is required to
round out a sea-fighter. In the ma
rines, practically the same routine
is followed. Men are intensively
trained in seamanship, and are made
conversant with the sea and with
maritime affairs. In three months a
man can be made well rounded ma
rine or sailor, it is said.
In the national guard, the first
that will be sent to the trenches,
the recruiting is to be carried on until
this unit of the army is raised to its
10000 strength. In Virginia there are
three regiments Of Infantry, the
First, Second, and Fourth regiments
Independent units are the Richmond
Blues, Cavalry; Norfolk Blues and
Richmond Howitzers, Field Artillery;
and a few scattering groups, as the
Roanoke Coast Artillery, and the
Portsmouth organization. here are va
cancies in all of these, which the
State is anxious to fill with the right
sort of men. In the national guard
organizations, the personnel of the
men is regarded as slightly better
than in the regulars, and somewhat
more desirable. Men are received in
all of these at this time.
In the Quartermaster Department
there are no vancies at this time
Men are listed as privates and ser
geants, and First Sergeants-thest
are the non-commissioned officers
Then it jumps to Captains and Ma
jors, and the higher officers. Men ar,
needed in this work as soon as thu
national guard is raised to its full
strength. There is now one quarter