Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-25
100000 HAVE JOINED
U. S. FIGHTING FORCES
Men Enrolled in Army, Navy and
Marine Corps Now Number Be-
tween 100000 and 100000.

Since the declaration Of the existence
Of war early in April more than half a
million men have enlisted in the Army.
Navy. Marine Corps and National Guard.
Today between 100000 and 800 900 are en-
rolled in the various branches of the
fighting service and the great majority
of them are armed, equipped and under
training. They will be Joined at the end
Of the summer by nearly million men
selected for the new national army from
the millions registered for war duty.
June 5.
The regular army totaled a little more
than 100000 men three months ago; it Is
nearing the 100000 mark today and War
Department officials, backed by the press
Of the country. are bending every effort
to bring it up to 100000 during the pres
emit week.
when war came. numbers nearly $50, 900
today: OF that number nearly $4,000
actually are under arms. The Marine
Corps has been raised from 1900 to
nearly 10000 men. The regular blue
Jacket force Of the navy has been raised
from less than 60, 600 to 100000.
Force Of Railway Engineers.
An entirely new force of railway
engineers for duty in France to handle
railway problems behind the fighting
lines also has been created. Most of
the regiments are at full strength and
ready to go. Probably 10000 men have
already Joined these regiments.
Forty thousand picked men are under
strenuous training at the officers train
ing camps. insuring good Junior off1cers
for the national army. Other thousands
are doing their share at. the Medical
Corps. Aviation and Engineer Corps
training camps and still others are with
the naval coast defense reserve keep
ing the Atlantic coast free from the
submarine menace and insurfng a clear
road for the endless stream of cargo
carriers which arc taking thousands Of
tons OF American war supplies and
food to the allies.
The Immediate need, it is declared,
IL to bring the regular army up to its
full strength without delay. These are
the first line troops. the men who will
be the first Americans to face the Ger
man hosts. They will be the bone and
sinew of Gen. Pershing's army and
there must be no delay in getting them
ready for action.
This lie Recruiting Week.
President Wilson has designated the
present week as recruiting week for
the regulars. Secretary Baker has
sought the aid OF all newspapers to the
before June 80. No explanation of the
need for getting the men by that time
has been given. but it has been as
sumed that 1t has to do with getting
forces to Europe.
Adjt. Gen. Mccain pointed out again
today that under the selective army
bill every man who volunteers in the
regulars now means one man less re-
quired for service in the national or
selective army. A careful record Of the
state distribution of recruits is being
kept for that purpose.
Gen. Mccain also directed attention
to the fact that after the second series
Of officers training camps has closed,
lar regiments will have equal il not
better chances for securing commits
sions than men in the National Guard
or the national army. They will be of
longer experience and will be the first
to be sent IN France