Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-19
ALL COMPANIES ARE
ORDERED UP TO WAR
STRENGTH
NEED ONLY 10 DAYS
AT WHICH TIME GUARD WILL BE
PREPARED TO NOVEL; & TO
SEND PERSHiNG AND DIVISION
OF REGULARS TO FRANCE.


Springfield, H., May l9-Illinois
Guard will be recruited to war
strength and her first army of 1882
men will be ready for service when
ordered within ten days. This was the
expectation of Adjutant General Dick
son today as he began sending out
orders to all unit commanders to push
recruiting at once.
Equipment is to be one of the big.
gest worries. When the troops were
mobilized for the border many of
them came to blue uniforms, civilian
clothes and all sorts of non-descript
garments. 1t is hoped that this time
the equipment will be ready for all
the 1882, when they are mobilized.
Marines Going Too.
Washington, May ia regiment Of
marines, $500 men commanded by
Col. Charles A. Doyen, now stationed
at Marine Barracks, Washington, will
accompany the Pershing division
which will be the first American
troops to go to the French battle
front. This was announced here today
by the. War Department.
The marines will be those that have
been stationed at Haiti, Santo DOM
lingo and Cuba and they will be arm.
ed, equipped and organized in the
same manner the regular army sold.
iers will be.
TO Exempt Men With Dependents.
Washington. May l9.-"The war de.
Daltment desires at the outset to ex-
empt from military service, as far as
possible, all those having depend
ants"
1his will be the military policy of
the government on conscription. ac.
cordng to a statement today by the
/ Council of National Defense. The
statement was made after consultation
with Secretary of War Baker in an.
sWer to a question submitted to the
council at the recent conference of
/ gCVGrnors.
The council had been asked If the
/ government would care for DEPEND
entS OF doctors and others sent abroad
for service as civilians or attached to
come branch of the service of the
allies. The complete policy has not
yet been formulated, the council re.
piled. The war. department realizes
thar al those with dependents can.
not be exempted, and accordingly has
asked C0nera js for an appropriation
to take care of those lett behind
Doctors will be ranked as army ofIic.
ers. the council explained and the
war department believes their nay viii
be sufficient TO care for their depend
ents.
Another question asked was, will
the government assist in protecting
property of military value? The coun-
Gil today replied that such protection
was considered the function of the
states but IN cases where military
aid was requested of the government.
5lch aid would be given.
/ Washington, May 19-~The nation
now knows that the United States il
at war. In the homes of some ten
million men today the fact that they
are eligible to be called to the col.
ors and must at least register has
become a seven reality
In exactly seventeen days these men.
all between the ages of u and 80.
) must record themselves for military
service. When the physically unfit
and those who far substantial reasons
must be eliminated are weeded out
there viii be chosen "the first 100000
the men who will make up the selec-
tive draft army that is to be trained
at once ana sent to France 10 rein.
l force "Rlack lack" pershing and his
r division of regulars VINO long before
S that time will have carried the
= Stary flag TO the front of French bat
+ tie line.
$ The first force to take the field will
he regulars Arrangements have been
! made by the War Department. accord
y ing TO Official announcement to have
Major General John J. Pershng.
Republican In politics and a soldier of
, whom the entire army is proud, pro-
! ceed 10 France soon, Later. when
arrangements for protection can be
made his division of regulars win 20
over seas, The makeup OF the expedi-
ti0n, when it viii start and all such
matters is Il military secret and will