Evening star., 1917-09-19
Three Hundred Thousand Men
of National Army Go to Train
for Overseas Service.
DISTRICTS FIRST QUOTA
TO START SEPTEMBER rs
Early Arrivals Not to Be Fully
Equipped Because of Gigantic Task
of Obtaining Supplies.

Three hundred thousand men Of the
National Army today are on their way
to sixteen cantonments to undergo an
intensive training period preparatory
for service overseas. Today's increment
represents approximately As per cent Of
the total quota under the first call from
nearly 5000 exemption boards.
The District of Columbia will not be
represented at Camp Meade today. al
though the District was the first place
in the United States to complete its reg
istration of men, the first to get its
draft machinery in operation and the
first to select a man for the National
Army.
Entrainment of the Districts first 45
per cent will take place September 20
to 80, following the movement OF Penn
sylvania troops to Camp Meade be-
ginning today. and Maryland men be-
ginning September %. The War De-
partment postponed the movement Of
local men several times.
The transition from civilian to mill
tary life throughout the nation today
was effected with a minimum OF delay.
In every section Of the country the
men called by the individual boards
were assembled, placed under military
discipline welded by one Of their num-
Der selected as leader. and assigned
to special troop trains now en- route
to the mobilization camps. The new
increment will join the first quota OF
45 900 men called to the colors Septem-
Der 8.
insufficient Equipment for All.
Because Of the obstacles encountered
by the War Department In procuring
supplies it is probable that some Of
the men will be only partially equipped
on arrival. No attempt to outht COM
pletely the units for war service Will
be made until Just prior to the de-
Some civilian clothing. such as over
coats, will have to be used for time,
as the clothing industry has not as yet
caught up with its work.
With tho mobilization Of one-half
Of the 6s7, 900 men Of the flrst cali un-
der the selective service law in prog
ress, the question arises as to whether
that number of men Will be sufnciene
to fill all units of the National Guard
and National Army. There are indi-
cations that a deficiency in men will be
disclosed when official reports from all
the thirty-two training camps are
available.
Seventeen divisions of tho National
Guard have been organized. but with
the exception Of the New York, Penn
sylvanfa and d few others and tho 4zd
Division. which soon will embark for
France, they are not at maximum war
strength. The fighting strength OF the
seventeen divisions under the new
tables Of organisation would be 625.o00
men. supplemented by many Thousands
Of auxiliary troops. Whatever din
promptly from tho National Army. As
the guard will 20 drst to tho front
Men Taken for Other Units.
Since the President called the first
687 900 men of the National Army, the
Signal Corps, including the aviation
section, has been greatly expanded.
Nearly 100000 additional men must be
transferred to this service alone. The
Medical Corps also has been increa sed
greatly, and numerous necessary aux
iliary units for immediate duty abroad.
not thought of when the call was made,
have been organized. Where enlisted
have been taken. their places will have
to be Allied with National Army men.
So far as known no definite figure As
to the probable total dedciency In mon
prepared in the absence Of complete re-
ports from all guard divisions and aux
Hilary corps. Il Is not unlikely, how.
ever. that whom the National Army d.
visions are organized. many vacancies
win be found at the cantonmenta. and
1t will be necessary either to make .
second can on the drafted forces or to
train incomplete divisions. Divisions
will 20 to Franco only at maximum
strength.
Food Situation Satisfactory.
In . statement the War Department
says that the industries OF the country
are expanding rapidly to meet the
Army supply demands and only minor
shortages are expected at the training
camps. Quartermaster ofncials regard
The problem OF obtaining clothing
and other equipment. however, has
presented many obstacles. most OF
which already have been overcome.
with 100000 men TO Proyide for and
'S the department faced a gigantic task
at the outbreak of the war.
Difficulties arose from the outset" :"
the statement says There was q
shortage of wool. shortage Of duck
for tentage and leggings. a shortage of
fast dyes for uniforms and . shortage
shortage Of cotton. but . shortage of
"These difficulties have been and are
being overcome gradually. The item
of tentage furnishes an Illustration.
The department desired to place orders
normal output Of the country 10 20 .oo0,-
900 yards per annum. All along the
lima Industrial establishments had to
be expanded to meet unprecedented do
mands.