Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-11
Need for Officers

The great need Of the war army to
be raised will be properly equipped
officers. and to aid in meeting the de-
mand the war department has decided
| to adopt the Plattsburg idea on 4 ma
ton wide scale. Arrangements for the
camps already are being made, and
! civilians DESTROYS of fitting themselves
| for commissions in officers reserve
corps may apply now to departmental
| commanders for assignment to them
i The number of camps to be set UP
! will depend on the number of appli-
| cations received.
| A course of three months vigorous
, training will be given the prospective
officers. who will be organized into
camps on larger units. and go through
all the drills and exercises of enlisted
! men, supplemented by lecture courses
as to the duties of officers. The quail
ties displayed by men undergoing this
training will determine whether they
are suited TO army life and also the
commissions in the reserve corps
which they are qualified 70 hold. Com
missions will be issued ut the conclu-
sion Of the training period to those
accepted who will be assigned to units
of the regular army. national guard or
the first contingent of troops TO pc
raised under the draft plan.
The scheme is designed particularly &c
meet the conditions of civilians who have
had no military experience and who are
too old to enter the second lieutenant
grade Of the reserve corps, but are ether
wise qualified by education and capacity
No Il ar.f,, oarlt
was announced today, has suspended the
regulation limiting new enlistment in the
regular army to men not more than j.
wears of age. This was made possible ny
the war declaration against Germany
Under existing law men not more IMAM
a. wears of age could be accepted but
10 conform to the administra tons army
hill the maximum age has now been set
at 40 wears The present authorized
c+reorth OF the regulars will soon be
reached at the present rate Of enlistment
Including all combatant and non-comoat-
ant troops and unassigned recruits. TINS
would mean a total of !CS.o0 enlisted men
Until the President 50 directs. the reSi-
ments cannot he brought up TO waf
strength or additional regiments organ
tied. II is apparent that the administra-
tion Is not inclined to take this sep unit
Congress- has acted on the new army
hr1 An exception will he made IN the
COCO or regiments Of Negro troops, how
o,.or some Of which already are over the
authorized peace strength. They VIII be
fl,ed from waiting lists TO fun war time
strength. Recruiting for other reslrneh's
will also be prosecuted vigorously, IL Is
indicated. rs the process OF assembling
enuppinE and assigning recruits taxes
some time and it is expected congress
ui,I act before any considerable humoer
=, excess OF the authorized strength may
re ready to join their regiments
Tho nuestion of supplies for the IN
,roaeine number of recruits both Tor
,,o regulars and guard is difficult
ono and has been complicated by faii-
rro Of deficiency and regular approprla-
t;o,, hills in the last Congress. Plenty
of MONEY viii! be provided in the near
future but because of the unusual de-
mands upon skilled labor II mas oeen
difficult to get quick deliveries and II
NAV be so days before the great vol
ume Of deliveries begins
Plans for making Harvard one of the
largest camps for training officers were
announced at the conclusion Of meet
ing of the faculty today. Work in the
reserve officers training corps. which
is now confined to Harvard under grad
yates. will. by vote of the faculty be
thrown open to Harvard graduates and
to graduates and under graduates Of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
with which Harvard has a working
agreement Eventually, it was thought.
the corps would be thrown open to all
other colleges.