New-York tribune., 1917-06-30
Canvas Shelter Indicates
That Training Period
Will Be Brief
Destination in Doubt
Redistribution Of State Forces
Is Expected Soon After
Federaliz alton
From The Tribune Bureaul

Washington. June 29.--Thc National
cpard will be sent TO encsmpments in
the Southern and Southeastern depart
us,ts Immediately after il Is drafted
;n.o the Federal service. the War De-
nartm.nt announced to-day. The
cyardsmen will not. as had been ex-
,ec.od remain in state camps unless
,bey have been modified prior to be-
ing drafted.
It was thought probable to-day that
the dates for III. drafting into the Fed
eral service would be changed. These
bnv. been fixed Professionally as July IS.
July rs and August 5. There is objec-
ton 70 this arrangement, as officers in
the first draft would be the seniors Of
those In later drafts. and confusion
might arise in the field.
All the National Guardsmen except
those Of the extreme Northwestern
states will go 70 the Southern camps.
The two Northwestern divisions will
20 TO Linda Vista, Cal, and American
Lake, Wash.
Guards Destination In Doubt
There has been no authoritative an
nouncement as TO the use 10 be made
OF the National Guard. The existing
units and the new ones that are ready
fer Federal inspection and recognition
eomprise the skeleton of sixteen in
fsntry divisions. Under present dis
t,ibution by states, however. there
would not be more than four or five
divisions complete enough to deserve
that name.
/. seems likely that redistribution
and Consolidation of the force must be
undertaken soon after they pass into
the Federal service under the draft
clause of the national defence act.
Probably twelve or more complete in
fsntry divisions could be organized.
Certainly that number could be COM
pleted with the cavalry employed dis
mounted, as is now planned, and used
as provisional infantry regiments.
AT full war strength the existing reg.
inents would represent a total force OF
probably $4,000 men. OF that number
AZ least one-third are fairly well sea-
soned troops. who have had six or eight
months OF intensive instruction and
service on the border. In the judgment
Of army officials this will furnish a
splendid nucleus to train the new men
and insure the rapid passage OF the
entire force through the elementary
stages Of its military education.
Training To BE Brief
The fact that the Guard camps are
70 be OF canvas seems to indicate that
II is not expected TO keep them in train
ing on this side of the ocean for q very
extended period.
Additional training for numerous
Guard artillery units soon will be IN
progress also at the officers training
camps. At least battalion Of field ar
tillery has been ordered TO each camp
in order that the artillery officer can
didates for the National Army may
learn the things they must later teach
to the new forces. In the process val
liable training will be given TO the
Guard battalions as well.
The greatest problem that faces the
War Department is to find supplies
for the steadily increasing host of Ma
tonal Gusrdsmen.
State officials have been notified that
il is impossible 70 fill acquisitions for
new equipment that have been pouring
in. The first force 20 be made ready
must be the regular army, expanded TO
100000. The officers training camps,
where $4,000 men are under arms. also
have absorbed an enormous quantity Of
reserve equipment.
II appeared possible to-day that a
full marine brigade eventually would
General Pershing's army. With the
corps raised to 10000 men enough for
a brigade could be spared, and officers
and men want TO get to the fighting
front