Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-06
FIRST CALL TO BE
FOR 100000 MEN
TContinued From First Page1

strength of more than 100000, by
draft unless enough volunteers enlist
quickly, and for bringing into the SER
vice by late summer of the first 500,-
600 of the new force of men between
the ages of 10 and 25 years to be call
ed to the colors by selective conscrip-
ton.
In drafting its program the staff rec
ognized the fact that the United
states must start at the beginning and
train first an army of 100000 officers
and noncommissioned officers to un-
dertake the training of the thousands
of youths who will enter the service
| with no notion of military duty or
life.
Expansion of the present regular
army to its full war strength of 2S7,-
900 enlisted men and 11,700 officers
means many new regiments of all
arms to be created by dividing exist
ing regiments and filling each hall to
war strength with volunteers or con-
scripts. The National Guard regi-
mentS, all of which can be called into
the Federal service under existing law
will have approximately $4,000 men
and 10000 officers at war strength.
No new regiments of the guard would
be organized and the full limit of the
national defense act would be invoked
to wipe out any distinction between
Federal and State forces. Here also
volunteers would be received, drafting
being resorted to only when neces-
sary.
Plan For Reserve
These two steps would provide a
force of 614,000 men and $4,000 off,
GERS to be supplemented by a recruit
organization for each unit, making an
additional 100000 men under train
ing, but to be held in reserve to fill
gaps in the active army as they oc-
Cured.
For five months these expanded
forces will be subjected to training of
a character hitherto unknown in this
country. simultaneously the registra-
ton of all men between the ages of
10 and 25 will be carried out with Fed
eral, State and municipal authorities
cooperating.
In August or early in September the
first 100000 of this new army, COM
posed exclusively CT young men sum-
moned to the colors under the princi-
pie of the universal military service.
with those supporting dependents or
needed by the nation in civil life eX-
empted, would be assembled for train
ing. From the regulars and National
Guard regiments would be drawn 100,-
600 specially selected officers and nom
commissioned officers who would or
ganize, train and command the units
of the new army.
Second Call Next Year
A year from now, a second incre-
ment of 100000 youths would be call
ed out, another 100000 officers and
noncommissioned officers would be
drawn from the regulars. the National
Guard forces, or the first section of
the new army, to officer and train the
second section.
1000, 900 Trained Men
BY that time the machinery that
had been built up would provide
enough trained officers and noncom-
missioned officers to train a million
or more men at time, if that were
necessary. The War Department bill.
however, proposes to authorize now
only the first two classes of the new
army, making total of more than
100000 trained troops would be
available possibly within a year and
half, or in two years at most.
The nearly $4,000, 100000 asked of
Congress to carry out this program
deals only with the first year of
preparation. Behind it stands the
need of an equal sum for reserve sup
plies of ammunition, cannon and other
war material if the army is to be
employed in actual war.
16 Army Divisions
Included in the present estimates
gre the cost of cantonments to house
The troops. Presumably the previous
plans of the general staff for sixteen
military districts will be carried out.
This would provide for sixteen COM
plete and fully equipped army divi-
sions, and while it is not proposed to
create any additional tactical units of
the National Guard, steps will be
taken to fill in the gaps in the pres
ent guard structure with cavalry, ar
tillery, engineers or other special
troops, completing the tactical or
ganization of those forces on sound
military lines.
Staff officers regard the plan pro-
posed as the most effective that could
be worked out to meet the present
emergency. They regard the eXpan-
sion OF the regular army and the
bringing of both that force and the
present regiments of the guard to full
war strength as vital, since for FIVE
months they expect to employ these
agencies as huge school from which
trained officers and noncommissioned
officers can be turned out. No other
way presents itself to meet the need
for officers, although additional steps
are being planned to organize new
officers schools and supplement the
work of all military colleges and
schools now turning out prospective
junior officers.
Seventeen Sections
The staff bill divided into seventeen
sections makes the following provi-
sions:
Section 1. For the immediate ex-
pansion of the regular army as de-
scribed, with all vacancies thereby
created in the commissioned rank to
be filled by provisional appointment.
Section 2. For the drafting into
the Federal service of the full strength
of the National Guard and National
Guard reserve, for the period of the
existing emergency unless sooner dis
charged"
Provide For Officers
Section g. For the raising by draft
of an additional 100000 men, the
sources from which officers can be
drawn including the regular army,
National Guard, officers reserve corps,
volunteer officers, or from qualified
graduates of civilian schools. Officers
up to and including the rank of COL
onel to be appointed by the President
without confirmation by the Senate.
Section 4. For the second incre-
ment of 100000 men.
Section 5. For the raising by draft
of recruit training units as may be
deemed necessary to maintain the ac-
tive forces at maximum strength.
Section 6. For the organization and
equipment of provisional ammunition