The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-05-18
HOW THE GREAT ARMY WILL BE
RAISED BY SELECTIvE
coNScRIPTIoN.
QUICK CENSUS TO BE TAKEN
Good Physical Condition and Lack OF
Dependent Relatives the Prime
Requisites-First Half Million Will
Constitute Finest Of Armies.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

| one OF SelectlVe cOnScrlDtlOn. Just
what does it mean? Thousands upon
thousands of letters have been re-
ceived by war department officials and
by members of congress asking in eff
feet that question.
1t Is to the credit of young America
that the vast majority of the letters
OF inquiry received from men of mill
tary age have as their inspiration a
desire to serve. There have been
very few letters of inquiry showing
any desire on the part of the writer's
to escape service If possible.
The United States government not
only will take quick census of the
men subject to the provisions of the
legislation, but one of the men who
are likely to be ordered to the cOlors
when 1t Is necessary to raise another
army. The young men will go first
and then 1t may be that older men
VIII be called upon, but the estimates
are that two armies of 100000 men
can be raised without extending the
age limits and without depicting the
ranks of those whose services in agri-
culture or In the factories are abso-
utely essential, not only to the we'll
| being of the forces In the field but to
that of the people at home.
The Chief Requisites.
The prime thing necessary for serv-
Ice is good physical condition. 1t
must not be supposed from this that
young men who temporarily are lit
tie run down can expect to be released
from service. There is nothing so up
building as open air exercise with good
food and regular hours.
After the physical condition of the
men has been determined and per-
haps even before, inquiry will disclose
whether or not they have persons de-
pendent upon them for support. 1t Is
not the desire of the government to
send men into the army If relatives are
to become dependent upon the govern
mcnt for their livelihood because of
the removal of their livelihood's prop.
good deal has been said about
a "conscript army" The new army
will be conscripted, but the sting Of
CONSUMPTION, if there be any such. will
be removed. Nearly every French sol
der at the front today is a conscript.
There are few Frenchmen who, way
beyond the age limit, succeeded in in
ducing the authorities to accept their
services because they could show that
despite their age they were as phys
ically capable as some of the much
younger ones In the ranks.
There Is another thing which will,
In large measure, do away with "con-
scription" criticism. The government
have the volunteer spirit. 1t will not
| be strictly legal perhaps for discrimina-
| ton to be made between the willing
and the unwilling. 1t is not to be
taken for granted, however, that the
| unwilling ones will say that they are
| unwilling except In some pronounced
cases and in the cases of the arrant
towards.
The men with the real volunteer
| spirit, the heart desire to serve their
country, army men think will make
the thing so manifest that the shin
Ing spirit will compel attention to
them, and the recruiting officers, or
CONSUMPTION officers, If you wish so to
| call them, being human and willing to
go against the point of least resist
ance, unquestionably will give ardent
youth the first chance.
1t is known that army officers be-
lieve the first 100000 Americans to
| be called to the colors will constitute
the finest army physically and mental
| ly ever called TO the country's stand
ards. The United States has con-
tinental population Of nearly 100000
600 people. To get from this huge
number 100000 stalwart youngsters is
a comparatively easy task. 1t is
| thought that in the ranks of the first
100000 there will be probably 100000
men who have seen some kind of mill
tary training. 1t is also thought that
among them will be thousands upon
thousands who have had physical
| training In outdoor and indoor ath-
| letics.
Training In New Methods.
In congress the opposition to the
liability to service plan gave no heed
to anything except the main point in
| contention. Army officers do not say
| IL out loud, but 1t Is known they hold
that the opponents Of selective con-
scription cannot see beyond the rear
| line of trenches In the homeland
| preparation camp.
Lieutenant General Bridges of the
British forces has said plainly that the
best of England's youth, the men who
have made good officers, volunteered
at the outset of the war and bore the
brunt of the fighting following the bat
| tie of the Marine, and suffered terrible
casualties. The result was that the
officer-making material was sadly de-
pleted and when 1t came to raising
| other armies the men were lacking for
instruction and for leading purposes.