The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-06-28
HALF 4 MILLION VOLUNTEERS
Number of EnIiStmentS Since the
Declaration of War.

2SNlnStOn. June -T.--N Nolt lli"-i
half a million men have volunteered
in the American army and navy du:-
ins the period OF less than three
months that has elapsed since war
was declared TO exist.
The army and navy and National
Guard represented an aggregate
strength of little more than 100000
men when the war resolution was
adopted. Today between 100000 and
500. 900 are enrolled and the great
majority of them are armed. equip
ped and under training. They Will
be joined at the end Of the summer
by nearly a million men selected for
the new national army.
The regular army totalled a little
more than 100000 men three months
ago: it is nearing the 25O,000 mark
today and war department officials,
backed by the press of the country,
are bending every effort to bring it
up to 100000 during the present
week.
The National Guard, 10000
strong when war came, numbers
nearly 100000 today. annd nearly
$4,000 actually are under arms,
guarding against German plotters
and doing the job thoroughly.
The marine corps has been raised
from 1900 to nearly 10000 men.
Thronging to the Navy.
The regular bluejacket force of the
navy has been raised from less than
$4,000 to 100000. The boys of the
country have thronged to the navy in
such numbers that recruiting sta
tions could not be built fast enough
to accommodate them.
An entirely new force of railway
engineers for duty in France has
been created and some of the resi-
ments are now at full strength and
ready to go. Forty thousand picked
men are under strenuous training at
the officers training camps, insurins
good junior officers for the national
army. Other thousands are doing
their share at the medical corps and
engineer corps training camps and
still others are with the naval coast
defense reserve keeping the Atlantic
coast free from the submarine men
ace.
The immediate need, administra-
ton officials believe, is to bring the
regular army up to it's full strength
without delay. These are the first
line troops, the men who will be the
first Americans to face the German
hosts. They will be the bone and
sinew of General Perishing's army
and there must be no delay in getting
them ready to go. =.
pCCA h1ahSs S~AAPesASA'
President Wilson has designated
the present week as recruiting week
for the regulars. Secretary Baker
has sought the aid of all newspapers
to the end that 10000 men shall be
enrolled before June 3Oth. No ex
planation of the need of getting the
men by that time has been given, but
it has been assumed that it has to dc
with getting forces to Europe.
Recruiting officers throughout the
country have been instructed to ad
wise with editors of the newspaper:
in their section to work out ways o.
stimulating interest.
Brigadier General Mccain, adju
tant general of the army, pointed ou
again today that under the selective
army bill, every man who volunteer
in the regulars now from any State
means one man less that State vii
D0 IGu ull gu W ltSIi Ill I1lO A>c%SAS1A@~
army. A careful record of the Stat'
distribution of recruits is being KEEP
| for that purpose.
General Mccain also directed at
tention to TIL fact that after tn
second series of officers trainin:
camps has cl~sed, the only road t.
promotion will, be from the existing
| forces. Men in the regular regiment
will have equal if not better chance
for securing commissions than mel
in the National Guard or the nationa
army. They will be of longer expert
| ence and will be first to be sent t.
France.
Check Mate.