The Robesonian., 1917-09-20
OyER 100000 MEN GO FOR
tyARD FOR NATIONAL ARol
yhcIr Next Move Will be as Fighting
lien Toward the Battle Fields OF
Francs--Eauipmen Big Problem


Marshalad for the last time as CIV
ilians, rnore than 100000 men of the
national army went forward to the
sixteen environments to be trained Tor
the battle against German autocracy'
Their n,xt move will be as tlghtlng
men toward the battlefields OF
France
The men represent approximately 40
per cent of the total quota under the
first call from each of nearly, 5,OOO
locai boards. Already at the camps
is the advance guard of 5 per cent OF
she total, composed Of experienced
men sncluding cooks. Out of this
has been created a skeleton organ
Ization into which the second incre-
rnent will be absorbed. When the
last men of this increment arrive
the camps will house half Of the
firsl call forces or 343,50O men, and
The other half will follow as rapidly
rs quarters and equipment are made
available.
Equipment the Big Problem
In a statement Tuesday night the
War Department says the enormous
task of obtaining equipment and sup
plies for the army is moving satls-
Iactorily. Some of the men of the
national army may be only partial
Jy equipped for some time after they
are mobilized to furnish them with
full war equipment until the eve OF
their departure for Europe. Some
civilian clothing, such as overcoats,
will have to be used for a time, as
the clothing industry has not as yet
caught up with it's work.
With the mobilization of one-half
of the 687, 900 men of the first call
in progress, the question arises as
to whether that number of men will
be sufficient tt fill all units of the
national guard and national army.
There are indications that a defici-
ency in men will be disclosed when
official reports from all the thirty
two training camps are available, but
no figure has been compiled.
Seventeen Guard Divisions
Seventeen divisions of the nation
al guard have been organized, but
with the exception of the New York,
Pennsylvania and a few others and
the 42nd division which will soon en-
bark for France, they are not at
maximum War strength. The fight
ing strength of the seventeen divis-
ions under the new tables of organ
ization would be $4,000 men sup
plemented bv many thousands of
auxiliary troops. Whatever defici-
encies there are will be supplied
promptly from the national army
as the guard will go first to the
front.
Since the President called the first
$4,000 men of the national army, the
signal corps, including the aviation
section, has been greatly expanded.
Nearly 100000 additional men must
be transferred to this service alone.
The medical corps also has been
greatly increased and numerous aux
ahary units for immediate duty
abroad, not thought of when the call
was made, have been organized.
Where enlisted men of the guard
Or regular army have been taken,
their places will have to be filled
with national army men, and it will
be necessary to make a second call
on the drafted forces or to train in
Complete divisions. Divisions will
go TO France only at maximum
strength.
+ Only Minor Shortages
In a statement Tuesday the War
Department says that the industries
of the country are expanding rapid
ly to meet the army supply demands
and only minor shortages are ex-
pected at the training camps. Quar-
termaster officials regard the food
situa ton as satisfactory.
The problem of obtaining clothing
and other equipment presented many
obstacles. With two million or more
men to provide for and $4,000, 100000
to spend the first year, the depart
meht faced a gigantic task at the
outbreak of the war.
Difficulties arose from the out
set, the statement says. "There was
shortage of wool, a shortage of
duck for tentage and leggings; a
shortage of fast dyes for uniforms
and shortage of labor. There was
Mo appreciable shortage of cototr
but a shortage of looms.
Overcoming Difficulties
"The difficulties have seen or are
beng gradually overcome. The item
of tentage furnishes an illustration
The department desired to place or
eiers for fifty million yards of tent
age. The normal output of tn
country is twenty million yards pc
annum. Along the line industria
establishments had to. be enlarged t
meet unprecedented demands.
"3'he first officers training camp
brought rush order to the quarter
masters department for approx
nately 100000 uniforms. The equir
nnent of technical troops, authoriz
ed by Congress after the declaratio
= OF war, brought other unexpecte
demands. The quartermaster de
parement has also supplied 81
months equipment for the expell
t'onary force now in France and ha
contributed to the equipment Of tt
medical units.
Gan this time preparations Wei
continued for the opening of the cal
trn1pnts. Incipient labor trouble