The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-24
War Secretary Sends Urgent
Plea to Young Men.
Throws Open Class to Men I'm
trained in Military.
ORGANIZE RESERVE FORCE
Many Apply for Corps Positions
Back of Firing Line.
Estimate Colleges Will Provide
5000 NOn-COm's Annually.

Washington. March 24.-The grade
Of second lieutenant in the officers
reserve corps of the army has oeeh
Thrown open by Secretary Baker TO
.-nen without any military experience
whatever. provided they are physically
and mentally adapted to military ire
An urgent plea has been sent out 10
men between 81 and 80 years all over
the country to send in Applications loi
commissions with assurances that the
army will supply after enrolment the
military training necessary to fit them
FOR duty.
icorps should be able to furnish officers
for a force of 100000 volunteers IN
WAR time and also serve as reservoir
from which additional officers Tor the
freeular army could be drawn at need.
less than 600 men have been given.
reserve commissions in the line, de-
spite the fact that the law has been
in operation for more than eight
months. Applications are coming IN
slowly and army officers are using
every means iE their power to attract
voiing men 20 this service as patri-
otic duty.
Plenty for Engineering Corps.
There appears to be no lack of men
tdesiring to serve in the staff corps
reserve. such as the engineer corps,
the quartermasters division and the
medical service. Enough commissions
in these corps have been issued to
.provide the special arms for a million
troops 1t is fighting men who are
hacking line officers who may look
Tor service at the front in time of
-war. Army officers believe the failure
10 MI up this eserve is due only TO
Hack of information as to the require
ments. for it is the fighting lines that
are attractive to young men in war
time.
Eventually the reserve officers
training corps composed of units at
universities. schools and colleges, will
IproYide more than 5000 men a year,
LID is estimated for reserve commits
|isions The first fruits of this scheme
for educating reserve officers, how
lever. will not come until 1918 and
.then not more than 5000 Junior Off
lcers can be expected to be turned into
the reserve In all probability many
Iof these will be required for regular
army commissions reducing the re-
i serve strength by that much.
No Training Necessary.
The law prescribes that no man shall
he commissioned in the reserve with
out having passed examination. The
war department has realized that lack
OF. previous military experience of any
men past their college days from max
ing application. For that reason every
effort has been made to make it known
thruOut the country that military ex-
perience is not required. Men will be
commissioned who have never worn a
suniform or faced a drill sergeant. The
army will gladly undertake to furnish
those who are otherwise suitable with
the necessary professional training
after they have entered the service.
This applies, however. only to the
grade of second Lieutenant. First
lieutenants, captains and majors must
show previous military experience to
/ earn their commissions. The heavy
4 responsibilities for the care of troops
I that goes with such grades necessit-
ateS this restriction.
Applicants for second lieutenants
commissions are being assured that
4 every opportunity will be given them
+ after enrolment in that grade to ad-
vance themselves to higher rank.
Pay for Summer Training Camps.
The department has appealed to
q young men who care to offer their
. services to apply without delay to
E the commander of the military de-
4 partment in which they live for nee
Il essary papers and information. Let
tiers should be addressed to the Com
manding General. Eastern Depart
4 iment, Governors Island, n. Y, Cen
ftral Department, Chicago, Ill; South
i iern Department, San Antonio, Tex,
or Western Department, San Fran
4 3cisco, Cal They will receive prompt
4 attention and arrangements for the
examination of an applicant will be
4made to suit his convenience as nearly
as possible.
To those who receive commissions,
the simmer training camps of the
.