New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-11
Plattsburgs All Over Coun-
try to Train Men Who
VIII Drill Recruits
Regulars Near Legal
Limit of Enlistments
Age Maximum Now 40;
Guard Forbidden 10 Or
ganize New Regiments

Washington. April lo.-The Admin.
isnation's plans FOR building up an
army are TO be supplemented at once
by the establishment a, 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 20 aid in meeting the de-
uard the War Department has de-
c.dcd 10 aoopt the Pla,tsburg idea on
a nationwide scale. Arrangements FOR
the camps already are being made and
civilians dcsirCus Of fitting themselves
for commissions in The OF Ulcers reserve
corrs may apply now TO departmental
commanders fer assignments 10 them.
The number OF camps to be set up viii
dopend on the number Of applications
received.
Three Months Intensive Training
A course Of three months vigorous
training will be given the prospective
officers. who will be organized INTO
companies or larger units ana go
through all the drills and exercises OF
enlisted men. supplemented by lecture
courses as to the duties OF o"''
The qualities displayed by men under
going this training VIII deteini'In.c
whether they are suited 10 army llIc
and also the rank IN the reserve corps
which they are qualified 10 hold.
rry,. no
conclusion Of the training period TO
those accepted. vho Will be assigned 10
uni.r Of the regular army, National
Guard or the first contingent OF troops
10 be raised under the draft plan.
The scheme is designed particularly
to meet the situation of civilians VINO
have had nc military experience ana
who are too old to enter the Secohd
lieutenant grade Of the reserve corps
but are otherwise qualified by educa
ton and capacity to become Officers
Raise Age Limit to Forty
The department, it was announce
TO-DAY. has suspended the regulation
Limiting new enlistment in the regular
army to men rot more than thlrty-nEe
wears of age. This was made possloie
bv the war declaration against Ter
many. To conform TO the Admlnstrs
tior's army bill the maximum age has
now beer set at forty years.
The authorized strength OF the regu'
lars Will soon be reached at the pres.
ent rate of enlistment. Including all
combatant and non-combatant troops
and unassigned recruits, THIS would
mean total Of $4,000 enlisted men.
Recruiting will be prosecuted vigor-
ouslv. il is indicated, as the process or
assembling, equipplng and assigning
recruits takes some time, and II Is eX-
pected that Congress will pass the new
army bill before any considerable mum
Der in excess Of authorized strength
may be ready to join their regiments
No New Guard Units
Plans for the National Guard we're
definitely outlined to-day by the War
Department.
Adiutants general of the states have
been informed that no new units of the
Guard will be recognized except such
special forces as may be necessary to
complete divisional organization OF
the present establishment, and those
which have armories, have been re
cruited in definite localities and have
other indications of probable perma-
nency.'
The purpose of the department is TO
prevent organization Of purely volun-
teer regiments under the guise OF Ma
tional Guard units. and which would
not, in all probability, last beyond the
duration of the war.