Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1917-09-20
100000 ON WAY TO
ARMY ONMENs.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 49,
Three Hundred Thousand men of the
national army are today on their
way to 16 cantonments to undergo
an intensitive training period prepa-
ratory for service overseas. Today's
increment represents approximately
as per cent of the full quota, under
the first call from nearly 5000 ex-
emption boards. The transition
from civilian to military life was ef-
rected within minimum OF delay.
The new increment will join the
first quota of $4,000 men called to
the colors September 5.
Every effort will be made by the
government to adapt the men OF the
selective draft forces to the branch
of military work to which they are
best suited by experience and natur-
al aptitude. To carry out this pur-
pose corps of civilian experts
trained in the service of great corpo-
rations in the selection of men for
special occupations will be appoint
ed soon to make a similar appraisal
of the enlisted men of the national
army preparatory to the assignment
of men to the special units necessary
in modern warfare. Charts have
been prepared, to be filled out by
the men, showing exactly their ex-
perience and training and providing
also for statement as to their per-
formances as to the kind of work
they will be called on to do. 1t is
possible these cards will be supple
mented with personal estimate by
the civilian experts. This can be
done only after rough general clas-
sification through the card system,
as it would be too great a task to
personally interview every man.
In a statement tonight the war de-
partment says the enormous task
of obtaining equipment and supplies
for the army is moving satisfactor-
lily but some civilian clothing such
as overcoats, will have to be used
for time, as the clothing industry
has not yet caught up with its work.
With the mobilization of one-half
of the $4,000 men of the first call
under the selective service law in
progress, the question arises as to
whether that number will be suffi
cient to fill all units of the national
guard and national army. There are
indications that a deficiency in men
will be disclosed when Official reports
are available.
Seventeen divisions of the nation
al guard have been organized, but,
the exception of the New York, Pen
nsylvahia and few others, and the
forty-second division, which soon
will embark for France, they are not
at maximum war strength. The fl
ghting strength of the seventeen di-
visions under the new tables of or
ganization would be 623,000 men,
supplemented by many thousands OF
auxiliary troops.
Whatever deficiencies there are
will be supplied promptly from the
national army as the guard will go
first to the front.
Since the president called the first
$4,000 men of the national army,
the signal corps, including the avi-
alton section has been greatly ex,
panded. Nearly 100000 additional
men must be transferred to this serv-
ice alone. The medical corps also
has been greatly increased and nu-
merous necessary auxiliary units fol
immediate duty abroad, not thought
Of when the call was made, have
been organized. Where enlisted men
of the guard or regular army have
been taken, their places will have to
be filled with national army men.
--O-