The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-09-20

Dispatches from all parIs of the coun-
try indicated that mobnization was be-
ing carried forward smoothly and amid
scenes of popular enthusiasm. The ma
tional army men were given trcmen-
dous send-off as they trooped to their
trains led by the local board officials
who found them qualified to join the
ranks of the nations defenders Almost
the entire As per cent of the FIRST call
forceN OF 6s7, 900 men will be under milf
tary control and training by Saturday.
HEALTH AND COMFORT
Every essential for the health and
comfort Of the nisa. had been provided
for. They will be fed and sheltereTg
without difficulty and their arms. unt
forms and all the balance OF their vi
equipment will be ready for them ass
rapidly as they are ready to use II.
There are busy days ahead at the can
tonments. Not only must the men be
examined by military doctors and finally
accepted for army service but they must
be organized Immediately into provisional
companies for administrative purposes
and to make possible their final assign
ments to the infantry, cavalry or artil
lery or to the special corps of the army.
The qualifications Of each man are 20
be noted and his ultimate duty as far
as practicable will bear some relations
to the training he has received in civil
life and his own inclinations.
WILL TAKE TIME
All this will take time. Time also VIII
he vod fA lofa yy-a+ -
the national army are to be transferred
to the National Guard divisional camps
| to fill those divisions to fighting strength.
The organization III the companies bats
talions, regiments or other units of the
national army itself cannot be completed
until this transfer has been made.
| Pending the time when the fighting
forces of the national army begin to
take shape, 1t Is not essential that full
uniform equipment be available for every
man assembled at the camps. Prelimi-
nary instruction in the school of the
soldier, which teaches men how to stand
and walk and the bearing and deport-
ment of trained, disciplined fighting
man, can well enough be given In citi-
zens clothes If necessary.
Many Of the young reserve officers who
are to command units of the national
army are not now at the cantonments.
For additional training. after their grad
uation from the officers training camps,
some have been attached to National
Guard units. Others are at service
schools preparing to become instructors
to the batteries. machine gun companies,
! signal battalions and all the other high
ly specialized arms of the service
COMMANDS ARE DESIRED
Regular Officers assigned to command
regiments of the national army are
looked upon somewhat enviously by their
comrades who remain with the regulars
| or go to the National Guard. 1t Is
common expression among these officers
that the task of training the absolutely
new forces is an inspiring one to man
who likes to see his company, troop or
battery develop from day to day. The
national army men are all nearly of an
age They have no old theories of SOL
diering to unlearn. They are ready 10
put all the vim Of their youth imme-
dately into the lesson. of today from
the battle fronts.
/ Freedom from old preJudices or from
internal political factions which besst
some guard organizations and many
other things also are on the side Of
the new army. There are many officers
who believe it will become as fighting
force the finest body of troops in the
world