Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-22
NEXT DRAFT CALL
NOW IS EXPECTED
About January |
At That Time 100000 Men
Will Be Summoned
to COlOrs.
PROBLEMS OF EQUIPMENT
TAKE ON SERIOUS ASPECT
Government Devoting Attention
to Transportation of Men
Already Enrolled.
BEING MET WITH MUCH SUCCESS
Six Months Before America Will
Take Part In Air Cut
Out for Her.

+tof1IA>S lO4N, aug -i'-JhHudiJ
l has been tentatively set as the date
for the second draft: the number Of
men to be called will be Approximately
100000.
This. learned in War Department
question: What will President Wilson
reply to the Pope's peace proposals?
With the allies striking on every
front, the United States. through the
officials charged with carrying on the
war. let drop sufficient hints to-day
OF preparations for the future to make
IT pla that there is little hope for
peace in administration circles at this
time.
Indications were that President Will
son. through the State Department. has
been In touch with the entente govern
ments. and that the basis on which
answer to the Pope will be made has
been decided upon. 1t at least has been
drafted in broad outline. and only de-
tails remained to be discussed
With an army Of more than 1900. 900
assured. the government is devoting
It's entire attention To transporting the
men already enrolled drafted to
France, rather than attempting to in
crease the number under arms.
Transportation problems are being
met with much success. IL was definite
~ learned to-day, with so much sue
cess. in fact. that after a certain period
tho length of which must remain
secret, there will be a constant and
uninterrupted flow OF American troops
and supplies overseas.
NOT SUFFICIENT MATERIAL
, TO EQUIP DRAFTED 3IEN
Equipment problems have taken on
another aspect. however. The army
experienced difficulty in Quitting even
the National Guard when it was
drafted into Federal service. and the
coming In OF the draft forces will
drain the last uniform and rifle. In
decd. the prospect to-day was that
there will not be sufficient material on
hand by October 80. when the last
increment OF the conscripted forces is
brought to the colors. to properly out
mt and equip them. Many men may be
forced to drill in civilian attire or
makeshift uniforms for several months
AN immense amount OF detailed labor
remains TO be done before second
draft can be called.
AS the situation stands at present
there not only is no equipment for
the men should they be called imme-
dately. but there are camps TO send
tHcIi w. anu iO 10 tram tnem.
Before the second draft can be Of
hcered. the men who go into the reserve
officers training camps on August 27
will have to be trained and commits
stoned. That will take until December
1t will require at least four months
TO replenish the depleted army stores
The war Department is considering
turning the National Guard camps in
the South into draft army camps. IL
necessary, hut nothing definite has vet
been accomplished along this line. 1t
is pointed out that the guardsmen will
be at the camps only compa ratively
short time. They Will have a period of
intensive training. and then will be
!. sent to France.
AT AMERICAN BASE
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Present plans call for their presence
at the American base before Christmas
That will leave the Southern training
sites vacant but in order to encump
a draft army there it will be necessary
to supply vast amounts of tentage.
or to ask Congress for millions to build
additional wooden cantonments
The National Guard will camp under
canvas in the South. but it will take
it's tents with it to France. Also.
there will be heavy demand from
the troops abroad for tentage, to re-
plenish the supply there.
Americas problem has resolved it.
self, not into one of getting men, or
in getting them across the ocean, but
in equipping them. And, from what
ia said in official circles to-day, the
-oblem is not an easy one to solve.
The quartermaster's department, CO.
operating with the various war and
supply boards. is securing the market
for the needed materials, but they are
not coming in as fast as desired.
The American army will have to de-
pend on the French artillery supply for
probably nine months. perhaps a year.
BY that time the vast numbers of field
guns for which contracts have been
let and for which Congress is aske1 t,
appropriate hundreds of millions under
the heading coast Defense" will COM,
menoe to come out of the steel mills
and from the ordnance factories.
SHIPPING FACILITIES
STRAINED TO UTMOST
America Is pushing aeroplane con-
struction. but 1t will be six months
before she will begin to assume the
part cut out for her In the air. It was
pointed out to-day that not only will
the guns have to be built and tested,
but they have to be carried overseas.
And what with transportation of men
and war materials 1000 miles, and at
the same time supplying the allies with
food and ships. the shipping facilities.
Including the help which America will
5continued on Fourth PaEe.5 '
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