The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
FORM new ARMY
United States Guards To Be
Organized Soon.
Men Who Enlist VIII Not Go
to France.
Volunteers TO Be ASKED FOR
Men Between 81, and 40 Are
Most Desirable.
Federal Recruiting Officers To
Be Sent to Kansas.
Volunteers TO BE ASKED FOR

Men who want to serve their coun-
try and do not want to go over seas
to fight, will have a chance in the
new United States guards. Instruc-
lions received today in the office of
Charles s. Huffman, adjutant general
provide for volunteer enlistments in
the federal guards. The organizations
will be independent of the national
army or the local defense program of
home guards.
Volunteers in the United States
guards may be used for service of
such character as the government
may require, and pay will be on the
basis of regular army infantry
branches. 1t is specifically stipulated,
however, that men VIII enter the
United States guards will not be
called upon for service on the battle
fields OF Europe. Men not subject to
C all under the selective draft and be-
| tween the ages of 81 and 40 years are
especially desired by the government
in its new guard organizations.
Troops to be known as the United
States guards, national army will be
organized by the government under
act of congress of May IS, 1917. The
organizations are desired for inn
mediate use and not for training.
Hence the preferred members will be
beyond the draft age and men of
former service By former service the
war department has designated army,
navy, marine corps, we'll organized
militia, police forces and fire depart
| ments.
Recruit Here Soon.
! Government recruiting officers are
to be sent to the state and Kansas
will at once be called upon to furnish
men for the new volunteer service.
Applications for commissions will be
| received thru the chief of bureau OF
militia, Washington, and commissions
Will be based on age, and former mill
tary and civil record. In classifying
the men who should not apply the
government has designated the fol-
! lowing as not desired for this special
| service:
(a) TIL ose civilians within draft
/ age, unless rejected for physical de-
| feet at close of a training camp, where
| they had qualified for a commission
/ in other respects.
CD Those civilians without previ-
Gus training as mentioned above.
tc) Candidates from training camps
who We're not recommended by their
| company instructors for commission
To Take Older Men.
The services of members of the
new federal organization will be used
as far as possible, in the vicinity nj
/
ance, tho, that such localized service
| Will continue thrUout the war AS
| surances are furnished, however. that
the service will not extend to actiy-
1ty on the battle fields of Europe
| w h1le men between the ages of 81 and
/ 40 years are especially desired spe-
cial provision will be made for enlist
ment of men beyond the age limit
where exceptional physical showing is
made. -
Members of the new organizations
VIII be used in carrying out provisions
| OF the presidents proclamation per-
tanning to alien enemies and NAV be
| used for the purpose of preserving and
protecting major utilities essential to
the conduct of the war in Europe
| Local defene work will doubtless be
/ left as at present in the hands OF
home guard units The provisions OF
the order state: 1T Is not intended
that these troops shall take over the
duties of private watchmen or loca
and municipal departments in lieu OF
present agencies. The standard OF
physical fitness is the same as tina,
| required for entrance in the army
i Minor physical defects may besW-aived
upon special application in each case
Dependency is not a bar to enlist
ment"