Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-05-25
TRAINING THE OFFICERS WHO WILL
COMMAND UNCLE SANS new ARMIES
ThyFWe Thousand Bright Earnest Young Americans Assemble
at Fourteen Camps Scattered About the Country to Be
Drilled in the Science of War-Picked for
Mental and Physical Qualities.

neers. Other men who will have been
selected for the coast artillery will pro-
coed to Fort Monroe, Va, or Fort Win
field Scott, Cal, for the remainder Of
their training. Those who remain at
the division camps will receive two
months training after the reassign-
ment mentioned above.
Eat the end of the whole period the
regular army officer In charge Will Sc
lect from each company, troop and
battery the officers for one regiment
of the corresponding arm. Thus we
shall have carefully selected officers
for sixteen infantry divisions and two
cavalry divisions by the time that the
supply departments can furnish equip
ment for these troops and by the time
the necessary machinery can be Put in
motion for procuring the enlisted men.
Each company, troop and battery
must furnish approximately 40 officers.
Those who are not selected for i'm
mediate use will nevertheless be com
missioned In the officers reserve corps,
If found TO be competent. and will be
available for use In connection with
any additional force that may be au-
thoriZed
"The total number of officers re-
quired for the 10 infantry divisions
and the two cavalry divisions is APP
proximately 10000. These should be
preferably mature men and the most
experienced natural leaders that the
country possesses. 1t is recognized
that there are thousands of men
throughout the country between the
ages of twenty-one and forty-four who
have had more or less military expert
ence, either in the regular army or
National Guard or at military schools.
With the basic experience supplement-
ed by natural aptitude for handling
men as demonstrated in business or
otherwise, a splendid corps Of 10000
reserve officers should be available by
the middle of July.
Should Be the Best.
at is necessary that the first ten
thousand should be the best that the
country has. In planning our military
forces we must assume that the war is |
by no means drawing to a close. and |
that the country must expand its mill |
tary forces as rapidly and effectively |
as the resources of the country per- |
NIT. The 10 infantry divisions and |
two cavalry divisions aggregate ap-
half a million men. The
officers of these forces must receive
promotion to meet the de-
mands of forces TO be raised later. II
is conceivable that many men who are
must be promoted one grade with each
successive addition to our military
force. For this reason the war depart
ment hopes that mature men will seek
appointment In the first ten thousand
"Other similar camps must follow
this first camp. Young men must be
admitted to the first camp, but not to
he exclusion of maturer men. In the
second and following camps young men
will predominant.
I'm making provision for instructors
It these training camps the resources
Il the war department have been taxed
o the utmost. The number of instruc-
ors Is not nearly as great as it should I.
'e. but IT Is hoped and believed that
many reserve officers and candidates
or appointment as such who would be !,
D attendance at those camps will have :
peciai qualifications to teach certain :
objects and in this way will be of
Material assistance to the regular army
Ulcers. This depends so much upon
be personnel Of each instruction COM
any that the matter must be regulat-
d by the regular army officers In !,
barge of each company. .
Book viii Be Furnished. n
1.-The outline of the entire course OF h
lstruction will be prepared In the war h
apartment and furnished TO the com Il
landing officers Of the camps. "
Books, maps and printed matter In
aneral will be furnished by the gov
-nment. Those who attend the camps
lould bring whatever books they pos L
SIS, but the authorized and necessary II
,oks for individuals will be fur ri
shed on arrival in camp. Q,
"The minimum age of those who at IN
nd is twenty years and nfne months. as