The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1917-05-03

as far as possible and out Of thu
way by the time the registration
is completed and the draft army
Of half million men summoned
to the colors. 1t will take, with
all the enlistments that have
heen made already close to hah
million men to do this. The army
needs these volunteers at once SO
that the units. filled to the war
strength, can be trained as fin
ished regiments. At the present
rate of enlistment, it will take a
year to fill these units, but by in
tensifying the demand for re-
cruits it is hoped the units will
fill up rapidly.
1t will take forty thousand Of
ficers for the army and the new
one that is to be formed from the
CONSUMPTION. 1t is up to the Of
ficers' camps to furnish these,
together with those that will be
taken from the regular army and
the national guard. These camps
should have officers ready to
take command of the half million
men when they are called into
camp, probably around Septem-
Der l.. On that date about
I, 100000 men should be under
arms. 1t is not planned to call
the second half million men until
around the first of the year.
They cannot be handled sooner,
nor will the equipment or train
ing facilities be available.
The big training camps, where
the half million men will be
drilled, have not been designated
yet; only the officers training
stations These stations might
be used by the national army
Chat is to be the term of the new
but it is not certain yet.
Huge environments Of wood are
to be built to shelter the men.
The government today has sui
ficient arms to take care of the
regulars and national guard at
war strength with several hun
lred thousand left over. But fac
;ories now are working night and
lay turning out new guns for the
zig army that is to come. The
runs will be ready, it is said, by
he time the men are The same
s true Of clothing and equip
nent. Countless mills are now
'utting their entire time to turn
ng out uniforms, shirts, under
year, socks, hats, shoes and other
quipment for the big army. 1t
$ huge undertaking consider
ng the small reserve supply,
which is pitiful compared to the
lctual needs of the big army.
But so tremendous are the re-
ources of the country that it
) confidently predicted that be-
ore the big army is in training
amps, there. will be no question
f supplies; that the factories
rill have them turned out.
Thousands Of rapid fire guns
re under contract and being
urned out in large number daily.
he number that will be avail
BILE December l cannot be made
'ublic now under the rules of {
encorship, but it can be said to
e many thousands. At the same
ime artillery is being turned out
$ fast as the big mills can make
he guns. The shortage of artil-
cry has always been one Of the
'reat weaknesses of the army.
Everyone knows that, including
he German enemy, but every
nill is working at full capacity /.
or the government.
No attempt was made to wait
or appropriations. Contracts
rere let and work started, and
he money will be forthcoming. ;
again, it is not possible to 60 in
o figures, but it is said that ar
illery will be available faster
han the men, except Of the very
ighest caliber, which it takes a
,ng time to make. While the
arsenals are to con-
niue to make Springfields, the
actories which are equipped for I
'nfields, the English rifle, are to
lake them for our army, but !
nth a new chamber to fit the
Imerican ammunition.