Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-19
ORDERS DIVISION
{continued from Page Ons)

in the way Of information has been
lacking, and there is every indlcauon
that the regular forces which VIII
compose the expedition are being Sc
lected with greatest care. NO ind1ca-
tions Of the plans for that DIVISION
have been allowed to leak out. IL Is
known however, that orders nave al
ready gone forward to officers OF trieo
judgment and long experience noCIy-
ing them to prepare for foreign SER
vice.
The war in Europe has developed many
new phases of battle not heretofore
known in military science. Artillery mas
decided the fate of many battles and ev-
cry army has doubled and trebled its guns
both in size and number. For this reason
it was thought likely that the expeoitioh-
airy forces would include disproportion-
ate force of artillery troops and be oackei
by solid wall Of guns when it comes TO
grips with the enemy.
More Than $4,000 Men
! The number of men in the expeditionary
| forces has not been disclosed. A division
at war strength, however. totals more
proximate" division of the war depart
ment's statement probaly will exceed that
| figure.
| General Pershing Republican in poii>
! tics was a brigadier general when he
led the forces into Mexico in pursuit CT
the bandit Villa. His work at that time
won for his selection by his brother gen
eral officers as a major general and the
choice was heartily endorsed by the war
department and President Wilson him
+. self
In his explanation of his reasons
for not awaiting himself of the social
ed Roosevelt amendment to the army
bill, Mr.. Wilson has brought out sharp
| ly the points made against that
amendment by army officers. regard
less of their personal political lean
ings or their regard for Mr.. Roosevelt
himself Many officers who are warm
admirers of the former President have
unhesitatingly condemned his proposal
to raise a volunteer army corps or di-
vision on the ground that 1T would
drain the regular service of men vi
tally needed to train the millions to be
whipped into fighting trim in all too
brief time.
Rooseveit's Plans
The list of regular officers Mr..
Roosevelt desired to take with him has
been the subject of much speculation
and comment. Because of the old as
/ sociation in Spanish war days between
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood and Mr..
Roosevelt, it has been regarded as viz
tually certain that Gen. Wood was
the former Presidents selection for
supreme command OF the force.
! Under the plans Of the war department,
Gen Wood, by reason of his great expert
ence in mobilization problems, his I'M
! failing energy and enthusiasm, has been
assigned to the hardest task of any gen.
eral officer. He will direct, as COM
mander Of the Southeastern department,
the mobilization and training of IL divis-
ions, or more than 100000 men, among
whom without question will be those who
will be first selected to follow Gen. PERISH
ing's forces to France.
I There was talk in army circles tonight
of the possibility that way would be
found to use the former Presidents scr
vices in another way, but official com
ment on the subject was lacking.
Presidents Proclamation
In his proclamation under the draft
bill the President. declaring establish
ment of the selective CONSUMPTION system
"a new thing in our history and a land
mark in our progress" enjoined> the ma
ton to approach the dav of registration
"In thoughtful apprehension OF Its signin-
canoe"
/ at is not an army that We must train
for war" said the proclamation, 1T Is
nation. To this end our people must
draw close in one compact front against
a common foe. But this cannot be II each
man pursves private purpose. All must
pursue one purpose.
| "The nation needs all men; but it
needs each man. not in the field. that
will most pleasure him, but in the
endeayor that will best serve the COM
/ mon good"
Those who remain to till the soil,
the President pointed out, and others
who help keep alice the vital process
| ca of the nation are to be no less a
part Of the army than those who &C
| tually take the field. Every country
! in the great war. he said. must De
nation in arms for the scale Of war
has become so great that armies have
been replaced by nations In arms
TT is no sense a consumption of the
unwilling" the President said. lit Is
rather select ton from a nation which
has volunteered in mass. 1t is no more
a choosing Of those who shall march
with the colors than it is a selection
of those who shall serve an equally
necessary and devoted purpose in the
Industries that lie behind the battle
| line.