Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-08
PLANS T0M0B|L|zE
NEW FIGHTING FORCE
Gen. CroWder and His Assist
ants Working Out Regu|a- =
@tions Under Draft.
ARRANGING TO ASSIGN MEN

Regulations governing actual mobili-
cation of the men for the first National
Army now are being worked out by
Provost Marshal General Crowder and
his assistants. They will show how the
drafted men will be assigned.
Many applications have been received
from men certain to be called in the
first increment for assignment to some
particular arm of the service. 1t is
said to be probable that some effort
will be made to meet the wishes of
these men as far as possible 1t IS
pointed out. however. that IT can only
be done to a limited extent. as the
regulars and the National Guard now
are practically filled up
1t is regarded as likely that the
mobi liZation regulations soon TO be is
sued viii show that the surplus OF
drafted men is to be used as a recruit
reservoir. and that all the men viii be
put under training as quickly as pos
sibie. A recruit depot will be eStab-
lished in France from which regiments
at the front will be kept filled up.
drafts of men from the main recruit
depot in this country being sent over
TO this distribution center as needed.
To Keep Army at Top Strength.
men will be returned to the front when
recovered. and steady flow of re-
cruits to maintain active regiments at
top fighting efficiency will be provided
IN TINS way.
The only hint of the probable method
of mobilization Of drafted men lies in
a recent ruling by Gen. Crowder. which
shows that the adjutant general may
summon the quotas of the districts in
increments Division of each quota
into five equal parts is suggested. each
part to be called up separately, as
needed.
Under this arrangement it would be
possible to call out at once the men to
form the new National Army, and to
summon later those who are to COM
pose the reserves for all elements of
the army: Men temporarily needed in
harvest fields or elsewhere could be
classified by local boards into these
later increments to meet emergency
situations in their districts without de-
laying organization of new forces.
Total Number of Guardsmen.
Statements issued by the War De-
partment show that preliminary fig
ures place the total force of National
Guard taken info the federal service
August at 1903 officers and 419.S34
men. Another statement showed that
1S0.166 war volunteers have been re-
cruited for the regular service since
April 1. leaving only about 1000
vacancies in the regulars at war
strength.
These figures mean that approximate
ly 725.000 men are under arms ex-
elusive ofsthe Navy and Marine Corps,
to be supplemented within the next
few weeks by $4,000 raised under the
selective draft bill. of the latter num-
Der about 100000 will compose the
third great element of the war army,
the new National Army and the re-
mainder will go to fill up the regulars
and the guard and their reserves.
In Hands of War Department.
The War Department has taken over
recruiting for the National Guard as
well as the regulars. the entire guard
having now become part of the Army
of the United States and having no
connection with the statea A War
Department statement says that about
half the men employing for enlistment
are within the draft ages. Those ac-
cppted will count as CREDITS an