The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-05-20
WILL SOON CO ABROAD,
AND EXPEDITION WILL
FOLLOW LATER.
10000 MEN IN FIRST UNIT
IMMEDIATE NEED
is ONLY 1000, 600
Expected That Fully 10000
600 Men Will be Enrolled
June S.
Some Opposition in Senate to
Fixing Registration Date FL
nally Selected.

Washington, May 19.-President
Wilson last night ordered an expedi-
tionary force Of American troops to
the trenches in France. In signing
the conscription bill, which provides
for the recruitment of an army of
100000 men by selective draft, the
president rejected the volunteer di-
visions offered by Theodore Roose-
welt for service in France and di-
rected the war department to pre-
pare force of $4,000 regulars for
immediate dispatch to the battle
front. They will be the flower of the
army and will be led by Gen. John j,
Pershing-"Black Jack"-as he is
known in the camps and cantonments
of the Philippines and along the Rio
Grande. Gen. Pershing, accompanied
by his headquarters staff, will pro-
ceed to France at once. His COM
mand will follow as fast as their or
ganizations are effected and equip
ment and transportation provided.
The sentimental expedition is the
direct result of representations of
Marshal Joffre and Vice Premier vi
viani of France. 1t had been opposed
by the general staff of the army.
Every bit of machinery at the dis
posal of the government is working
with one object. in view-to start the
troops who will carry Old Glory over
the seas on their way at the earliest
possible moment and with the very
best of everything the nation affords
The army law provides for an ul-
innate force Of approximately 2,000,-
600 men to back up the first troops
to go to the front. When the bill had
been signed, the president affixed
his name to a proclamation calling
/ upon all men in the country betweer
the ages Of FL and 80, inclusive, tc
register themselves for military ser.
vice on June 5.
The proclamation sets in motor
Immediately machinery that will en-
roll and sift 1000, 900 men and pave
the way for the selection of the frs
100000 young, efficient soldiers
without crippling the industries o.
commerce of the nation or bringins
hardship on those at home.
Even before the bill was signed th'
war department announced that tn
full strength of the national guart
would be drafted into the Unitet
States army, beginning June 15, AM
concluding Aug. 5. Orders to brinI
the regiments to full war strength i'm
mediately accompanied the notifica
ton sent to all governors. A mini
mum of $4,000 fighting men will b
brought to the colors, under these OF
ders, supplementing the 293O00 reg
ulars who will be under arms b
June Is.
It is from these forces that tn
first armies to join Gen. Pershing q
the front will be drawn, to be TO
lowed in a few months by recurrin
waves from the selective draft armie
the first 100000 of whom will b
mobilized Sept. /, Following is tn
text of the terse announcement G
the war department as to Gener'
Pershing's expedition:
"The president has directed an e.
peditionary force of approximate
one division of regular troops, VI
der command of Gen. John j. Persl
ing, to proceed to France at as earl
date as practicable. Gen. Persl
ing and his staff will precede II
troops abroad
st is requested that no details {
speculations with regard to the mob
lization Of this command, dates (
departure or other items be carris
in the press other than the offici
bulletins given out by the war depar
ment relating thereto