The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-07-04
TO ADD T0FORCE
IN FRANCE
United States to Rush Work OF Pre-
pairing, More Troops For Sec
ond European EXPEDITION
WILL DRAFT NATIONAL GUARD
Men viii Be Sent at Once to Train
ina Camps in South and West
Disposition Of Guard, Secret

ina Camps In South and "est-
Disposition Of Guard, Secret
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 29.-
Reports from Maj. Gen. Pershing on
the landing of American troops IN
France still were lacking tonight, and
the personal accounts of newspaper
correspondents of the scenes at the
French port again were held up to-
wait on the official information. and
army officials maintained complete 81
lence as to the expedition. -,
Marine corps officers were eager TO
learn whether the regiment of sea
soldiers under Col. Doyen, which form
ed part of the initial force. was first
to land. The marines generally are
proud of their record of being first
in the field and are hopeful that 1t has
been sustained in the first dispatch OF
American forces to fight in the old
world. t,dtr s%t sas-.N .'lGIE-. !,
Preparation OF the great forces that
are to support those already dispatch
ed are moving steadily ahead, both i'll
the army and navy. Announcement
today that when the national guard is
drafted into federal service and mo-
bilized it will be sent at once to
divisional training camp sites in the
southc astern, southern and western
department, was another step on inc
road. 1t will eliminate some delay IN
making ready the state troops tor tue
front.
Guards Disposition
There has been much speculation,
but no authoritative announcements OF
the disposition to be made OF the ma
tional guard. The existing units and
those new ones that are ready for
federal inspection and recognition
comprise the skeleton of sixteen IN
fautry divisions. Under present dis
tribution by states however, there
would not be more than four or five
divisions complete enough to deserve
that name.
1t seems likely that redistribution
and consolidation of the forces must
he undertaken soon after they pass
into the federal service under the
draft clause. Of the national defense
act. Probably twelve or more com
plete, 4nfantTS diyisions then could be
a organized. -l,.} ~
At full war strength the existing
regiments would represent total
force Of probably 35o,0oO men: or
that number at least one-third are
fairly we'll seasoned troops. who al
ready have had six or eight months
of intensive instruction and active ser
vice on the border.
Additional training for numerous
r,,ard units soon will be in progress
also at the various officers training
camps. At least battalion OF field
artillery has been ordered to each
camp in order that the artillery Off
Ger candidates for the national army
NAV have the means of learning the
things they must later teach the nc"
forces.
Supply Problem Greatest
The greatest problem that faces the
war department is to find supplies for
the steadily increasing host of ma
tional guardsmen which moves to its
mobilization camps some time in July
or August. ....
State officials have been notified
that It Is impossible to fill acquisitions
for new equipment that have been
pouring in. The first force to be made
ready1Inust be the regular army, cX,
panded stO 100000. The officers
training camps, where $4,000 men are
,lpdern arms, also" have absorbed an
endrlnous rqdantity of reserve equip
ment!o on e2'p% 'El h''.. .'I1
The government, it was learned to-
day, already is stalking steps to look
after the comforts of the troops IN
France, in addition to it's regular mil
itary preparations. The state depart
ment has asked that the French duty
on tobacco be remitted for supplies
sent to the American forces there,
Great Britain secured a similar agree
ment at the outbreak of the war as
the high French duties, If imposed on
soldiers luxuries, would have been al
most prohibitive.
The action Is important as the time
soon will come when the relatives and
friends of men at the front will want
to send over such dainties as ship
ping space will allow. A precedent
for withdrawal of the import tax on
these will have been established.
The exact date of the application
of the draft to the guard is still un'
der discussion. Present orders are
that the divisions of the eastern sec
ton of the country be drafted July Is;
the central section July 25 and the
western section August S.
F.. 1T has been pointed out, however
that inequalities in relative rank
among national guard officers would
result from this three increment plan
and the war department is debating
the advisability Of postpOning the ap
plication of the draft until August
and covering the entire guard at that
time in one operation.
"The penalties for the violation OF
the federal liquor law are so dras
tic that it is quite unlikely that many
DeOple will endeavor to reap any OF