Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-19
More Than 800, 900 Men
ofNational Army Start
for Sixteen Canton
ments for Training.

10y Associated Prcssl
WASHINGTON. September 1S.-Mar-
shaled for the last time as civilians.
Army will go forward tomorrow 10
the sixteen cantonments 10 be trained
for the battle against German autoc-
racy. Their next mot> will he as
fighting men toward the battle fields
of France.
The whole nation will be astir with
the movement Of the selectivc forces.
The men represent approximately 10
per cent of the total quota under the
first call from each of nearly 5000
local boards. Already at the camps is
the advance guard IF per cent of the
total. composed Of experienced men. in
Guiding cooks. Out of this has been
created skeleton organization. into
which the second increment will he
absorbed. When the last men of this
increment arrive the camps will house
half OF the hrst-cail forces, or 343.JU0
men, and the other half will follow
as rapidly as quarters and equipment
are made available.
In statement tonight the War De-
obtaining equipment and supplies for
the army is moving satisfactorily.
Some Of the men of the National Army
may be only partially equipped for
some time after they are mobilized.
and no attempt will he made to furnish
them with full war equipment until the
eve OF their departure for Europe.
Some civilian clothing, such as over
coats, VIII have To be used for a time
AS the clothing industry has not as
yet caught up with its work.
MAY NOT BE; SUFFICIENT
TO FILL " ALI. TENTS
With the mobilization OF one-half of
the $4,000 men of the first call in
progress, the question arises as TO
whether that number of men will be
suicicnt TO fill all units of the Ma
tional Guard and ..ational Army
There are indications that deficiency
in men Will be disclosed when official
reports from all the thirty-two train
Ing camps are available. but no figures
have been compiled.
Seventeen divisions of the National
"uard nave been organized. but, with
the exception of the Now York, Penn
Forty-second Division. which soon will
empark FOR France, they are not at
maximum war strength. The fighting
strength OF the seventeen divisions un-
der the new tables of organization
would be $4,000 men, supplemented by
many thousands of auxiliary troops
Whatever deficiencies there are will he
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 aviation
section, has been greatly expanded.
Nearly 100000 additional men must he
transferred to this service alone The
medical corps also has been greatly
increased. and numerous necessary
auxiliary units for immediate duty
abroad not thought of when the call
was made have been organized Where
ehiiSted men OF the guard or the reg
uiar army have been taken their
places Will have to be filled with Ma
ional Army men, and il will be ncccs-
sary either TO make n second call on
the drafted forces or to train incom-
plete divisions. Divisions Will GO 10
france only at maximum strength.
ONLY MINOR SHORTAGES
AT THE TRAINING CAMPS
In statement to-day the War De-
phrtment says thai the Industries of
the country are expanding rapidly In
meet the army supply demands. and
only minor shortages are expected al
the training camps. Quartcrmaster of.
me- &
sntisfa ctory.
the problem Of obtaining clothing
and other equipment has presented
many obstacles. With 100000 men
10 provide for and $4,000. .OUo. 00n ,o
spend in the first year, the departmen,
faced gigantic task at the outbreaks
Of tho war.
"Diflicultes arose from the outset"
the statement says. there was a short
age OF wool. Il shortage of duck for
tentaEe and lcggings. n shortage of
fast dyes for uniforms. and shortage
Of labor. There was no appr,ciahIc
shortage of cotton, but n shortage of
looms.
These difficulties have been. and
are being. gradually overcome. The
item OF tcntaGc furnishes AN illustr,-
orders for 50,000000 yards Of tentarc.
Tho normal output of the country Is
2o.0oO,ooO yards per annum. All along
tii7' line industrial establishment had
TO be expanded to meet Unprecedented
demands.
The first officers training camps
brought a rush order To the quarter
master department for Approximately
100000 uniforms. The equipment of
technical troops. authorized by Con-
gress after thc declaration of war.
brought other unexpected demands
The quartcrmaster department has also
supplied six months equipment for
tho cxpcditionary force now i'm France.
and has contributed to the equipment
Of the medical units.
"All this time preparations were
continued for the opening Of the can
tonmcnts. Incipicnt labor troubles
and a shortage Of raw material for n
while retarded this mn ior tosl<