The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-19
Comprise Second Contingent
40 Per Cent-Of Drafted Men.
Come to Kansas CantOnment
From Seven States.
KANSAS SENDS 2,576 men
Nearly $4,000 Begin Moving to
Camps Thruout Nation.
Will Be Under Intensive Train
ing Until Next Spring.

ond contingent of the new national
army, the Eighty-ninth division of
which will train at Camp Funston,
national army cantonment, today is
on its way to training quarters. The
men from nearby points in Kansas
were expected to arrive here late to-
day. The men will continue to pour
into Camp Funston until September
%, by which date 40 per cent of the
first draft, $500 men in all. is due
to have reported to training officers
here.
Preparations have been made for
the arrival of the men and as soon as
they reach Camp Funston they will be
assigned to quarters, after they have
been checked over by officers who will
have lists of those due here at this
time. Part of the army uniform will
be issued the men and they will start
light training at once.
40 Special Trains.
For the first time since the mobil-
iZation of troops for the present war
began, the facilities of the railroads
are expected to be taxed The Union
Pacific railroad will bring the men
to Camp Funston as it is the only line
reaching here. Forty special trains
with an average of 10 cars each have
been supplied by the railroads for the
purpose. OF the IS, 500 troops who
will arrive here during the week be-
ginning this morning, 10000 will trav-
ell in special trains.
Most of the special trains will be
made up of day coaches and chair
cars, altho in all instances where the
trains will be on the road more than
"a hours, sleeping cars will be pro-
vided. While the men are on their
way to camp, they will be given care
full attention. Preparations already
have been made to serve meals to
them. Tickets have been given to
each man for as many meals as he
will require
Fourteen counties and towns in
Kansas were not required to send men
to Camp Funston at this time, being.
exempted from the draft because of
army and national guard volunteer
enliStmentS. Exemptions are given
the cities of Wichita and Topeka and
Allen, Brown, Chase, Douglas. Gray,
jackson, jefferson. Kearney, Mont
dotte counties. Cherokee county will
furnish the largest number of men
under the 40 per cent call.
The following states will send men
to Camp Funston at this time, in each
case the number being 40 per cent of
the states total draft quota on the
first call: Arizona, 1890; Colorado,
1901; Kansas, 2,576; Missouri, 7,464;
Nebraska, 3,274; New Mexico, 917,
and South Dakota 1,OS7.
Begin to Train at Once.
Washington, Sept. 19.-More Amer
lean youths who will down kaiserism,
began moving to cantonments today.
Within the next five or six days,
the first big draft will be encamped.
In some communities this will amount
only to 35 per cent of the draft, in
others to as high as As per cent. Be
tween 275.0O0 and $4,000 men in all
will go.
Hard intensive training will begin
at once. Once absorbed into the small
skeleton organizations, already at can
tonments, the men will start drilling
They will be taught to march and
maneuver and then later as they de-
velop, they will beinstructed in trench
digging, bombing, bayoneting and
knife fighting and all the other things
that must be crowded into a few
months.
until next spring is regarded certain,
tho army officials refuse to set an
estimate on the time.
Shy on Equipment
For the moment drafted man will
be minus part of the paraphernalia
which goes to make a soldier. Civilian
clothing must be used in some cases,
but this shortage and the lack of rifles
is being rapidly overcome.
While the shortages and discom-
forts may provoke criticism from
some quarters, the war department
holds that its quartermaster service
and the peace-time industries of the
needs of converting 100000 men into
fighting forces almost over night
Millions of yards of duck, cotton,
wool and So on were needed and the
peace time output was far below the
requirements. Manufacturers extended
their plants, and now this tremendous
mass of supplies is nearly ready.
That additional men may have to
be raised before thes second draft is
picked seemed likely to authorities to-
day, due to the necessity of bringing
existing units up to war strength.
OveraIls for Recrlits.
Camp Funston, Kan, Sept. 10
Twenty-seven hundred men, the first
contingent of the second division of
the initial quota of the national army,
are arriving today at Camp Funston
/ from seven states. The estimate of
the arrivals is made by Col. C. B.
Clark in charge of caring for the
men.
Thirty-seven special trains will be
I brought to cantonment before Mon
day bringing a total of $500 men.
( The new arrivals like the first con-
tingent now in the camp, will be
! equipped with overalls pending the
arrival of uniforms. officers of the
| quartermaster's corps say.
1000 From st. Louis.
I St Louis, Mo, Sept. 19.-One thou
sand St. Louisans were modified to-
day ready o start for Camp Funston
! tonight to begin training in the new
national army.
325 From h. C, Get Send Off
i Kansas City. Mo, Sept. 19-Kan-
sas City's second contingent of the