Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-04-18
OFFICERS NEEDED FOR ARMY.
Civilian Training Camps for Pros
pcctive Officers to BE Set Up.

| building plans of the administration
are to be supplemented at once by
the establishment at many points
throughout the country Of civilian
training camps for officers.
The great need Of the war army to
be raised will be properly equipped
officers, and to aid in meeting the
demand the War Department has de-
cidcd to adopt the Plattsburg idea
on nationwide scale. Arrange
mentS for the camps are already be-
ing made, and civilians dcsir0us Of
hitting themselves for commissions in
the officers reserve corps may apply
| now to departmental commanders for
| assignment to them. The number OF
| camps to be set up will depend on
the number of applications received.
Course OF Three Months.
A course Of three months vigor-
0us training will be given the pros
pective officers, who will be organized
into companies OF large units, and
go through all the drills and exer-
cises Of enlisted men. supplemented
by lecture courses as to the duties Of
officers.
The qualities displayed by men un-
dergoing this training will deter
mine whether they are suited to
army life, and also the rank in the
reserve corps which they are quail
fled to hold. Commissions will be Is
sued at the conclusion of the train
| ing periods to those accepted, who
will be assigned to units Of the regu-
lar army, national guard or the first
contingent Of troops to be raised un-
| der the draft plan.
| The scheme is designed particular
ly to meet the situation Of civilians
who have had no military expert
ence and who are too old to enter
the second lieutenant grade of the
reserve corps, but are otherwise
qualified by education and capacity
to become officers.
The department, 1t was announced
to-day, has suspended the regulation
limiting new enlistment In the regu-
lar army of men not more than 35
years OF age. This was made posi-
BILE by the war declaration against
| Germany. Under existing law, men
not more than 4 5 years of age could
be accepted. but, to conform to the
administration army bill, the maxi
mum age has now been set at forty
years.
| Enlistment for Regular Army.
The present authorized strength OF
the regulars will soon be reached at
the present rate. Of enlistment. In
Guiding all combatant and non-cOm-
Blatant troops and unassigned re-
cruits, this would mean total Of
l3S,O00 enlisted men. Until the
President so directs, the regiments
cannot be brought up to war
strength or additional regiments be
| organized. 1t is apparent that tho
| administration is not inclined TO
take this step until Congress has
acted on the new army bill.
AL exception VIII DC IIlauS III lit
| case of regiments OF negro troops,
however, some OF which already are
over the authorized peace strength.
| They will be filled from waiting lists
to full wartime strength. Recruit
| ing for other regiments also will be
prosecuted vigorously. il is indicat-
ed. as the process Of assembling,
equipping and assigning recruits
takes some time, and it is expected
| Congress will have acted before any
considerable number in excess Of
authorized strength may be ready to
join their regiments.
The question of supplies for the
increasing numbers OF recruits both
for the regulars and national guard
is a difficult one, and has been COM
plicated by failure Of the deficiency
and regular appropriation bills in
the last Congress. Plenty Of money
will be provided in the near future.
but, because OF the unusual demands
upon skilled labor, it has been diff
cult to get quick deliveries. and it
may be sixty days before the great
volume OF deliveries begins.