The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-21
May Have Army of 100000
on Fighting Fronts Before
End OF a Year
REGULAR ARMY DESIRES
MANY ADDITIONAL MEN
Rumors Of Shake-up in Cen
eral Staff - Two Generals
Are Shortly to lie Retired.
1t Is Said

Washington. May 20--.Fiie Uni
ted States will be represented on
the fighting fronts of Europe. both
land and sea. by an army of per-
hap~ 100000 men and n powerful
force of naval vessels, within Il
year.
The Pcrshng expedition 10
France and the iiotiiia OF DESTROY
crs now hunting down submarines
IN the British war zone are but
the hcginning, This was indicated
IL official circles today and ample
proof is found in the preparations
which The government Is making.
Beg inning tomorrow, the big
push for volunteers for the mill
tars service will begin. The reg
uldr army needs more than .0a.-
900 men 10 bring IL to war stfengsi-
ard the national guard requires
10000 additional. Besides these
volunteer force of $50. 600 to fill
the places Of regulars Withdrawn
To train the volunteers and ;hs
100000 selectiyc conscripts are
wanted.
With recruiting officers shooting ~
a total of more than 400. 000-and
this is looked on in war department.
circles as the real test of volunteer
mcthods--every ounce OF machinery is
to be brought ~ bear to fill these
Grafton. probably late in August
The general staff plan calls for an
army Of approx3ulm1se,sF H. .a Il 1885 fsssaSsss
within a year Indeed, the total will
be swelled to probably 100000 in
that period as the second increment
under the conscription bill probably
will be ordered to the colors before
more than nine months have elapsed.
Send Division to Franco.
Out of these forces "A division is in
be sent to France 'as soon as rracti-
cable" according To Secretary. of War
Bakers announcement. This means
almost Immediately But there is no
&C ncealment that this is only the be-
ginning The earlier reinforccureuts
drawn, it is believed. from the regu-
lar army and rattorttf ru1rJf. then m
the federal service.
The army war college is working on
plans for tho employment of these
troops. These plans are still incom-
pete, it is stated. and before being
put into operation would have to have
the approval Of the general staff the
secretary of war and the president,
who ''alone is responsible for the con-
duct of the war and "Could rot evade
the responsibility if ] would"
The connection with the army prep
arations rumors are mere and more
persistent OF an early srake-up in the
general staff The chief of staff is
appointed by tho president. connrma-
ton OF the appointment lying with
the senate, Brigade General Hugh
l. Scott is now chief of staff, but he
is the military delegate on the Root
mission to Russia" and is not ex-
pectad TO return to this country be-
fore he reaches the age of retirement
in August--and his staff leadership
ay1f n In n l. oil ea
Major Gen erat Tasker Fl. Bliss is serv-
ing as chief of staff General Bliss is
also near the age of retirement He
will reach that age in December and
it is not believed likely President Will
son would appoint him IN General
SCOTS place in view of the fact that
he would have only few months to
serve. rigadier-General Kuhn. who
has studied war conditions in Europe
and vino has been reported favorahiy
inclined to an early expedition to
France from the first. is being pointed
to as the man most likely to fall into
the leadership.
To Use informed Liners.
Washington, Nav 20.--Three OF the
largest informed German liners the
Faterland. the George Washington
and another. the name OF which has
not been mentioned, will be repaired
and ready to transport an entire d.
vision or American troops 10 Europe
within five months. At the same time
it was told that nearly all the other
great German steamships will be avail
able for transport duty within that
time limit.
While the passenger capacity of the
Naterland and the George Washing
ton in all classes was about $500
each. the crews numbered almost AZ
many and it is estimated that each
nr
troops in comfort. The luxurious cab
ms and suites will be torn out ana
the cabins so arranged that the pas
senger capacitN will be much larger.