The Benson signal., 1917-05-19


France.
Approximately ten million men be-
tween the ages of tWenty-One and
thirty inclusive will be required to reg
lister as available for military service
in the war with Germany under the
terms of the new national army bill
perfected by the conference committee
of the house and senate.
From these ten million men there
cruits to the selective conscriptiOn
army, the second 100000 when the
president decides to call for them, and
recruits to bring the regular army and
National Guard up to maximum war
strength in the event that volunteers
to these forces fail to come forward in
sufficient numbers and the president
exercises his power to draft.
But in order that men under twenty
one and over thirty may serve their
country if they so desire, the measure
provides for the acceptance of volun-
teerS over eighteen years and under
forty years.
The gigantic number of men subject
to draft will not all be called to the
colOrS by any means. The proposed
law gives authority to the president to
draft as many men as he deems nee
essary to fill up the regular army, the
National Guard and the conscription
force of 100000 men.
2,001 900 Armed Men.
It is estimated by the war depart
ment that as a result Of the authority
conferred and the action to be taken
100000 officers and men will COM
prise the military establishment of the
United States.
Under the new bill agreed to author
ity is given to fill up by draft the reg
ular army and the National Guard to
war strength, and to raise outside this
100000 men, 100000 to come as the
first quota.
The war strength of the regular
army is about 100000 men. 1t has
now about $4,000 men and is short
about 5,OOO The National Guard
has a war strength of 625,O0O men. 1t
has now about 125,000 and is short
about 100000 men.
Therefore, on the first call there can
be taken for war service about $4,000
men to fill up gaps in the regular army
and National Guard and in addition
100000 as the first quota of the con-
script army of 100000 men.
In the first draft it is possible about
1,155,0O0 men will be taken for active
service, leaving authorization under
the present bill to call out immedi-
ately 100000 more for another con-
script army.
No Place for Roosevelt.
The action allowing Col. Theodore
Roosevelt to enlist volunteers for for
eign service has been eliminated.
What the colonel will do now that
his pet project is incapable of realiza-
ton is question. 1t is generally un-
derstood that President Wilson is alb
solutely opposed to the idea of vol
unteer organization under command Of
the colonel.
Pay for enlisted men and nom
commissioned officers was agreed upon
as follows:
Men now receiving less than $21
per month are increased to $31 per
month; those who received $24 are
increased to $32 men who receive $50,
S06 or C1O aro inoroocod 06 oacb mon
who receive $40 are increased to 500
Army Officers Pleased.
Army officers received notice of the
age limit with pleasure. They had
expected a higher maximum, though
they would rather have had the orig
inal ages of nineteen to twenty-five.
A new section in the bill authorizes
the president to organize and equip
three machine-gun companies for
each infantry and cavalry brigade
and four machine-gun companies and
an armored motorcar for each in
fantry and cavalry division. These
will be additional to those already
provided.
An interesting change is that the
draft will not be based upon the num-
ber of persons available for Serv-
Ice" as first proposed, but upon the
population.
A man may register by mail, if nee
essary. Fraud in registration, exam
ination, ETC, is punishable by the
same Imprisonment, "or, if subject to
military law, the individual shall be
tried by court martial and suffer such
punishment as a court-martial may di-
rect"
Dry Clause Drastic.
The prohibition provision is exceed
ingly drastic. The president is au-