The state herald., 1917-05-25

Washington. = Having proclaimed
June 9TH the day on which the 10 OOO.-
600 men of the country from FL TO 80
years old will register for the select
i've draft army. President Wilson FRI
day night issued orders for the dis.
patch of the first expeditionary force
TO France.
This expedition, which will be sent
TO the firing line as soon as possible,
will consist of one division OF regular
army troops-about $4,000 men-and
will be under the command Of Gen.
]. J. Pershing. who led the American
army in pursuit OF Villa In Mexico last
year.
The War Department announced
that the National Guard would be
called out for training on July 18th
and 25th and Aug. 9TH. together with
the intelligence that a regular army
division would be sent to France.
The announcement of the decision
to place the American flag on the fir
ing line ut once was made In the fol.
lowing press bulletin issued by the
War Department:
THE President has directed an ex.
peditionary force of approximately one
division of regular troops under com.
mand of Gen. John ]. Pershipg to pro-
coed to France at as early date a.
practicable.
Gen. Pershing will precede the
troops abroad II is requested that
no details or speculations with regard
to the mobilization OF this command.
dates of departure. composition or
other items be carried by the press,
other than the official bulletins given
out by the War Department relating
thereto"
Gen. Pershing was brigadler gen.
eral when he led the forces into Mex.
leo In pursuit Of villa.
The Presidents proclamation calling
for the registration Of the 10000 900
men In the country from 81 to 30
years old. inclusive. sets forth the pro.
cedure to be followed by persons sub.
1ect to the call whether they be resi-.
dent in their home localities, temper.
arily absent or III. The registration
blanks already have been distributed
to locnl officials and will be available
five days hence.
In his proclamation the President
dwells upon the necessity In this war
OF transforming the entire nation Into
combined military and economic
army. 'The men who remain to till
the soil and man the factories" he
says. ARE no less part OF the army
that is in France than the men be.
meath the battle flags. II must be 10
with us. 1t is not an army that wo
must shape and train for the war: Il
is a nation"
To achieve this purpose each man
must do not what he plcascs, but
what the nation wills he is bcst fitted
to do. In accordance with this prin.
ciple men best fitted for fighting will
bo tolled off to form tho selective
army. while others will bc assigned TO
Industrial and agricultural tasks. Tho
President also seeks to inspire tho na.
ton to new enthusiasm. to make OF
registration day n spiritual and pat
riotic holiday. when the duty shall
lie upon every man, whether he is
himself to be registered or not. to sec
TO 1t that the name OF every male ,r.
son OF designated ages Is written on
these lists OF honor"
The division sent to Franco will
consist OF picked units OF tho regular
ARMY. All the men will be veterans
OF the service. They will 30 into
camp near the front In France. where
they will receive intensive training
In the most approved methods OF
trench warfare.