Tombstone epitaph., 1917-02-25
PLAN MOBILIZATION
 0F CIVILIAN ARMY
War College Heads Prepare for Handling of Great voI-
 unteer Force.
RAPID TRAINING PROPOSED
Special Attention Given to Selection of Officers Qualified by Experi- enee to Lead Men
 Properly.

washington.-The war college d. vision of the general staff of the Unit ed States army has complete plans prepared for the mobilization of a citi- zens' army. These plans were com pleted some time ago in anticipation of the time when the United States might be called upon to enter into hostilities against a first-class power. These plans were based, 1t is said. up- on the possibility that the first call for volunteers might be for 100000 men. The war college recently pre- pared an official paper dealing with the raising of volunteer army.
 Under existing laws and under con- temporaneous conditions herewith" says the war college, 1t has hereto fore been assumed that In the event of q war with first-class power the United States would require not less than half a million of men for the first line, behind which could be prepared he greater army of citizen soldiers upon whom our main reliance for na- tional defense is conditionally placed"
 Subject to Presidents Call.
 The organization of volunteer armies can only be undertaken follow ing the presidential proclamation stating the number needed, and on this subject the war college says:
 "yelun.eer forces may be raised. o-- ganized and maintained only during the existence or imminence of war, and only after congress shall have au- thorized the president to raise such forces. Congress could, however, by legislative enactment, authorize the president to raise such forces In time of peace.
 "When so authorized. the president will issue his proclamation, stating the number of men desired for each arm, corps. or department, within such Him. its as may be fixed by law. It is prob able that the proclamation will also re cite the causes that make the call necessary and will state that the en- listed men shall be taken. as far as practicable. from the several states, territories and District of Columbia in proportion to the respective popula- tions thereof.
 Following the call of the president for volunteers, the secretary of war notifies the governors, etc, as in call for militia, informing them of the QuO- ta for their respective states, the exist ing militia organizations that will be received into the volunteers, the new organizations that it is desired 10 raise, and the maximum and minimum strength of organizations"
 All terms of enlistments, 1t is point ed out, twill be the same as that for the regular army, exclusive of reserve periods" and no person can be en- listed for the volunteer forces "who is not effective and able-bodied," and who is not within the ages stipulated for that service under the law as 1t exists at the time of the presidents call. Neither can any man be en- listed who does not speak the English language, while persons under eight cen years of age can be accepted only with the signed approval and consent of the parent or guardian of that per son.
 Recruiting, Rendezvous and pepots.
 The war college continues:
 with a view to recruiting and main- taining all organizations of the land forces as near their prescribed strength as practicable, the necessary rendezvous and depots will be estab- lshed by the secretary of war and will be directly controlled by him. Here the recruits will be enlisted and trained. For the purposes of instruc- ton and discipline, the troops at the recruit depots may be organized into companies and battalions, at the dis cretion of the secretary of war. The noncommissioned officers and privates will be of such grades and numbers as the president may prescribe.
 Tt Is apparent that the recruits at the rendezvous and depots are intend d to form a reserve battalion for each regiment or equivalent thereof of reg ulars and volunteers only; for the act also provides that in order to main- tain the land militia organization at their maximum strength the recruit rendezvous and depots in any state or territory may. at the request of the governor thereof, enlist and train re- cruits for land militia in the service of the United States from such state or territory. All the officers required for such recruit rendezvous and depots will be volunteers of the proper arm of the service.
 Appointment of Officers.
 "An volunteer officers are appointed by the president. but the number and grade of such officers shall not exceed the number and grade of like officers provided for a like force of the regu. lar army, and they will be subject to such assignment to duty and trans fers as the president may direct.
 "In order that the lives of those patriotic citizens who may volunteer for service may be safeguarded and conserved and not risked under per sons lacking In experience in the care