The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-19
100000 DRAFIEES
Continued From First Page.)

France. they are not at ma ximum war
strength. TIL" lighting strength OF tho
seventeen divisions under the new tables
al organization would be $4,000 men.
supplemented by many thousand of aux
Hilary troops. Whatever deficiencies
there are will be supplied promptly from
the national army as tho guard will so
first to the front.
Since the president called the first
6>1.nn mon OF the national army. the
signal corps. including the aviation Soc
ton has been greatly expanded. Nearly
t6h."O0 additional men must be trans
frrr,.d to this service alone. The medical
corps also has been greatly increased.
aud numerous necessary auxiliary units
FOR Immediate duty abroad. not thought
I'll when the call WAS made have been
. nrSauiZ"d. Wh"r" enlisted men OF tho
guard or the regular army have been
aiken. their places Will have to be filled
! with national army men.
:" far as known no definite figure as
/" III" probable total deficiency In men
had been compiled nor any estimate pre-
pared In the abscnc" of complete reports
from all guard divisions and auxiliary
corps. 1t is not likely. however. that
whom tn. national army divisions nrc
organized. many vacancies will be found
NJ the CHflib!H'nlS ana IL Will nc nee
| cSsncy either In make O second call on
! the drafted forces or to train in COM
plr,r divisions divisions will DO 70
! Franc: only at maximum strength.
In a statement today the war depart
country are expanding RAPIDLY at the
training camps. [luartcrmuSter officials
. regard the food situation as satisfac-
tory.
! The problem If obtaining clothing and
; other 'uU!pmrnt. however. has present
: ed many obstacles. most of which al
! ready have been overcome. With two
! million men to provide for and $1,000
! uO0. 900 10 spend in the first year. the
/ department faced a gigantic task at the
! outbreak Of the war.
| "Diffculties arose from the outset"
| the statrmcnt says. There was a short
| age Of wool. shortage Of duck for
| trntagc and lcSEinES. shortage OF fast
! dyes for uniforms and II shortage OF Ia
hor There was no appreciate shortage
/ of cotton. but a shortage Of looms.
These difficulties have been and arc
| being gradually overcome. The item ot
| tentnee furnishes nm illustration. The
! department desired to place orders Cor
! fct:. million yards Of tcntase. The nor
mai "utp"t nf the country is twenty mil
! lion Yards per annuin. All along the
, line Industrial establishments had to be
| expanded Ia meet unprecedented de-
| mands
! Tho first officers training camps
| broGght n rush order to the quarter
: master department for approximately
! 100000 uniforms TIL" equipment IL
technical troops. authorized hy congress
! afte rthn declaration Of war. brought
| other unexpected demands. The quar-
| tcrmaster department has also supplied
! six months equipment for the eND"dl-
| tinnnry force now in France and has
! contributed TO tho equipment OF tho
! medical units.
| All this time preparations We're con-
/ tinued for the opening of the canton
| ments. lncipient labor troubles and q
shortage of raw materials for a while
| retarded this major task. great in
dustrial expansion became necessary.