Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-10-26

made by members Of the committee
that they would stand by the govern
ment
The committee which called on Secre-
tary Daniels included Harvey A. Zafn,
master electrician; Thomas O'Connor.
master boilermaker; James ]. Mullen.
electrical machinist; Elmer A. Dean.
assistant shop superintendent; Jean
O'Brien. toolmaker; Bert Crowley. ship
filter; John ]. Kehoe, leading machin-
list: George Powers and William Grim
bling, machinists. They were accom-
panied by Michael Francis Doyle of
Philadelphia.
No Shortage Of Rifles.
There is no shortage Of rifles for the
American forces sent to Europe, al
though there may be some delay In
equipping all men of the national army
with the weapon they are to use IN
training.
1t was said officially ut the war de-
partment that there were enough rifles
in the country to equip every man
whose duties require him to carry one.
but that the difficulty was to find the
rifles own" to the desire Of army ana
state officials to keep reserve OF the
weapons available in case OF emer-
gency.
The forces sent abroad will carry an
average of at least two rifles man as
an adequate protection against loss and
ho
for short time at the national army
training camps, however, for one COM
pany to use the available training rifles
in the morning and another company
to do its training and target practice
in the afternoon with the same Weap-
Ons
This situation will be of short dura'
ton, as an enormous supply of rifles,
already ordered. will be delivered soon
after the national army forces are mo-
biliZed.
No New Draft Till Spring.
A full statistical report ON the OPP
| erations Of the draft law will be pre-
| pared by the provost marshal generals
office as soon as the mobilization OF
the first increment of 6S7,0OO men OF
the national army has been completed,
| some time early in October. Pending
the preparation Of the report and care
! full analysis of the conditions it dis
closes no steps toward calling a Sec
! ond increment to the cOlOrs will be
| taken.
General Crowder said that the call
| for the second increment never had
been considered at any conference at
which he was present and that he had
no indication that it had been taken up
! in any way by President Wilson or
Secretary Baker.
The first increment will fill all the
training areas-sixteen national guard
camps and sixteen national army cam
tonments-to capacity, and there will
be a surplus Of men besides those as
signed to the regular army. The reg
ulars are now 1900 above full author
lied war strength by voluntary enlist
ment, and the national guard is in
similar situation.
Training facilities already are taxed
| to make ready for the front men now
available, and it is regarded as very
unlikely that organization of an addi-
tional 100000 men of the national army
can be begun until the early spring Of
1918. Neither quarters nor personnel
to train the force will be available be-
fore that time.
Inequities of an unavoidable nature
| will be shown in the statistical report
There probably will be some amended
regulations based on actual experience
with the first increment, and some
amendments to the law may be thought
desirable by congress.