The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-19
MACHINERY TO
RAISE ARMY IS
NOW IN MOTION
Registration For First Draft
Will Begin. About
June 3
FIRST 100000 TO
COLORS SEPT. /
National Guard and Regu-
lars Will Form First
Line
fRy Associated Press.l

Washington, May 19.-The war army
| bill as passed by congress and finally
reviewed at the war department was
signed by President Wilson last night
thereby putting into immediate motion
machinery designed to produce with
| in a years time national army OF
more than 100000 trained and equip
ped men, backed by adequate reserves
of men and supplies and by an addi-
tional 100000 soldiers under training
The Presidents proclamation simnons
approximately 1e,000,000 men from n
TO 80 years OF age to register for mill
tary service and setting the date for
registration.
Will Begin June 8.
Indications are that registration will
begin about June 3,to be completed
within five days and to be followed by
the process of selection which will
determine the first 100000 men to be
called to the colors about Sept. 1.
Meanwhile the war department is
pushing vigorously its preparations to
mobilize the national guard. which
with the regulars forms the first line
army. 1t was announced yesterday
roGro into service by
Ag. ana -. stimate that with
(. n month to weeks intensive
ira hing these troops will be ready to
go forward for final preparation be-
hind the fighting lines in Europe for
the fighting that is before them.
Regular army regiments already are
in motion northward from the border,
preparatory to the expansion of the
OF the 18S,89S men necessary to bring
the regulars up to the $4,000 mark
1888 already have been recruited and
the remainder are expected to come in
before June Is.
Drafting Guardsmen.
The national guardsmen will be
drafted into the federal service in
three increments on July is, July 26,
and August 5. AS a general order is
issued by the president drafting
specific regiments the force will cease
to be militia and become part Of the
armies of the United States. %hey will
be relieved on the limitation upon the
use of militia, and be available for
service in any part Of the world. State
authorities were authorized to
I'LL present regiments or other units
up to full war strength, making a force
of approximately 329,S54 men and g.
BAT officers. No new national guard
organization will be accepted by the
federal government until this is done
and reserve battalions for each regi-
ment organized. The result will be
virtually to triple the present strength
Of the guard, but reports to the de-
partment show heavy recruiting in all
states.
The department announced also the
distribution by military departments
of the sixteen divisions Of the new
selective draft army and the sixteen
national guard divisions for training
purposes. All Of the guard divisional
cantonments and most OF the selective
army camps will be in the southern
part Of the country.
In all the forces first to be formed
will comprise seven divisions Of regu-
lars, four of which will be available
for mobile duty in continental United
States, supplemented by sixteen ma
tional guard divisions and later by
sixteen selective army divisions Be-
hind this force, a second call on the
selective forces. provided for in the
bill, will add sixteen additional
divisions.
There will be some delay in hear
ing from men absent from their homes
who will register by mail. The Off
cials of every state and town, however,
have been authorized to issue cards to
such men in their communities in
order to avoid the delay of application
to home precincts, the forwarding of
registration blanks and their return.
It is expected hotels and other public
places in big cities will be made dis
tribution points for cards of this
character.
Need Navy Officers.
During the interval between the
mobilization Of the guard and regulars
(Contfnued on Page Five