Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-23

neers. Other men who will have been
selected for the coast artillery will pro-
coed to Fort Monroe, Va, or Fort Win
field Scott, Cal, for the remainder of
their training. Those who remain at
the division camps will receive two
months training after the reassign-
ment mentioned above.
"At the end of the whole period the
regular army officer in charge will Sc
lect from each company, troop and
battery the officers for one regiment
| of the corresponding arm. Thus we
/ shall have carefully selected officers
for sixteen infantry divisions and two
cavalry divisions by the time that the
supply departments can furnish equip
ment for these troops and by the time
the necessary machinery can be put in
motion for procuring the enlisted men.
Each company, troop and battery
must furnish approximately As officers.
Those who are not selected for inn
mediate use will nevertheless be COIN
missiOned in the officers reserve corps,
if found TO be competent. and will be
available for use in connection with
any additional force that may be au-
thorized.
1.-The total number Of officers re-
quired for the 16 infantry divisions
and the two cavalry divisions is APP
prOximately 10000. These should be
preferably mature men and the most
experienced natural leaders that the
country possesses. 1t is recognized
that there are thousands of men
throughout the country between the
ages of twenty-one and forty-four who
have had more or less military expert
ence, either in the regular army or
National Guard or at military schools.
With the basic experience supplement-
ed by natural aptitude for handling
men as demonstrated In business or
otherwise, a splendid corps of 10000
reserve officers should be available by
the middle of July.
Should Be the Best.
at is necessary that the first ten
thousand should be the best that the
country has. In planning our military
forces we must assume that the war is
by no means drawing to close, and
that the country must expa d it's mill
tary forces as rapidly and effectively
as the resources of the country per-
NIT. The 16 infantry divisions and
two cavalry divisions aggregate ap-
proxlmately half million men. The
officers of these forces must receive
substantial promotion to meet the de-
mands of forces to be raised later. 1t
is conceivable that many men who are
appointed in the first ten thousand
must be promoted one grade with each
successive addition to our military
force. For this reason the war depart
ment hopes that mature men will seek
appointment in the first ten thousand
Other similar camps must follow
this first camp. Young men must be
admitted TO the first camp. but not TO
the exclusion of maturer men. In the
second and following camps young men
will predominant.
I'm making provision for instructors
at these training camps the resources
of the war department have been taxed
to The utmost, The number of instruc-
tors Is not nearly as great as It should
be-, but IL is hoped and believed that
many reserve officers and candid. res
for appointment as such who would be
in attendance al those camps will have
special qualifications to teach certain
subjects and in this way will be of
material assistance to the regular army
officers. This depends so muclf upon
the personnel of each instruction COM
pauy that the matter must be reguIat-
ed by the regular army officers In
charge of each company.
Book Will Be Furnished.
THE outline of the entire course of
instruction will be prepared in the war
department and furnished to the COM
manding officers of the camps.
Books, maps aud printed matter in
general will be furnished by the GOV
ernment. Those who attend the camps
should bring whatever books they pos
sess, but the authorized and necessary
books for individuals will be fur
ntshed on arrival In camp.
THE minimum age of those who at
tend is twenty years and nine months.
ye some likely lads. Win they come