The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-24
HOW THE GREAT ARMY WILL BE RAISED BY SELECTlVE
 cONSCRlPTlON.
QUICK CENSUS TO BE TAKEN
Good Physical Condition and Lack of Dependent Relatives the Prime Requisites-First Half Million Will Constitute Finest of Armies.
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

what does it mean? Thousands upon thousands of letters have been re- ceived by war department officials and by members of congress asking in ef- feet that question.
 It Is to the credit of young America that the vast majority of the letters of inquiry received from men of mili- desire to serve. There have been very few letters of inquiry showing any desire on the part of the writers to escape service if possible.
 The United States government not only will take a quick census of the men subject to the provisions of the legislation, but one of the men wao are likely to be ordered to the colors when it is necessary to raise another army. The young men will go first and then it may be that older men will be called upon, but the estimates are that two armies of 500,0o0 men can be raised without extending the age limits and without depicting the ranks of those whose services in agri- culture or in the factories are abso- utely essential, not only to the we'll being of the forces in the field but to that of the people at home.
 The Chief Requisites.
 The prime thing necessary for serv- ice is good physical condition. It must not be supposed from this that young men who temporarily are lit- tie run down can expect to be released from service. There is nothing so up- building as open air exercise with good food and regular hours.
 After the physical condition Of the men has been determined and per haps even before, inquiry will disclose whether or not they have persons de- pendent upon them for support It is not the desire of the government to send men into the army if relatives are to become dependent upon the govern ment for their livelihood because of the removal of their livelihoods prop.
 A good deal has been said about will be conscripted. but the sting of conscription, if there be any such, will be removed. Nearly every French sol dier at the front today is conscript There are few Frenehmen who, way beyond the age limit, succeeded in in- ducing the authorities to accept their services because they could show that despite their age they were as phys ically capable as some of the much younger ones in the ranks.
 There is another thing which will, In large measure, do away with "con- scription" criticism. The government wants for it's first army men who have the volunteer spirit. It will not be strictly legal perhaps for discrimina- ton to be made between the willing and the unwilling. It is not to be taken for granted, however, that the unwilling ones will say that they are unwilling except in some pronounced cases and in the cases of the arrant towards.
 The men with the real volunteer spirit, the heart desire to serve their country, army men think will make tAAO liiAh6 SO HldnllCSL tlldL lllc ing spirit will compel attention to them, and the recruiting officers, or conscription officers, if you wish so to call them, being human and willing to go against the point of least resist ance, unquestionably will give ardent youth the first chance
 It is known that army officers be- lieve the first 50O,000 Americans to be called to the colors will constitute the finest army physically and mental ly ever called to the country's stand ards. The United States has con- tinental population of nearly 100000 GOO people. To get from this huge number 500,000 stalwart youngsters is comparatively easy task. It is thought that in the ranks of the first 5OO,000 there will be probably 100000 men who have seen some kind of mili- tary training. It is also thought that among them will be thousands upon thousands who have had physical training in outdoor and indoor ath- letics.
 Training in New Methods.
 In congress the opposition to the raising of an army on the universal liability to service plan gave no heed to anything except the main point in contention. Army officers do not say it out loud, but 1t is known they hold that the opponents of selective con- scription cannot see beyond the rear line of trenches in the homeland preparation camp.
 Lieutenant General Bridges of the British forces has said plainly that the best of England's youth, the men who have made good officers, volunteered at the outset of the war and bore the brunt of the fighting following the bat tie of the Marne, and suffered terrible casualties. .The result was that the officer-making material was sadly de pleted and when it came to raising other armies the men were lacking for instruction and for leading purposes.
 American army authorities from the very beginning have laid stress upon