The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-08
National Guardsmen Mus
tered Into Federal Ser
vice Number 419,834
REGULAR ARMY UP
TO WAR STRENGTH
Countless Applications for
Assignments to Some
Particular Branch
CBy Associated Press.)

Marshal General Crowder and his
assistants are at work on the final
set of regulations to be promulgated
this week to complete the organiza-
ton of the selective draft war army.
They will govern actual mobilization
Of the men selected.
Statements issued by the war de-
partment show that preliminary fig
ures place the total force Of nation
al guard taken into the federal SER
vice at 1908 officers and 419,S34
men. Another statement showed that
180,766 war volunteers have been re-
cruited for the regular service since
April l, leaving only about 1000 vac
ancies in the regulars at war
strength. This represents about one
days recruiting.
These figures are to be supple
mented within the next few weeks
by $1,000 raised under the selective
draft bill. OF the latter number about
100000 will compose the third great
element in the war army, the nation
al army and the remainder will go
to fill up the regulars and the guard
and their reserves.
The mobilization regulations will
show how the drafted men are to be
assigned. Already the war depart
ment has received countless appli-
cations from men certain to be call
ed in the first increment Of the draft
forces for assignment to some par
ticular arm or branch Of the service.
Where a man has been summoned
by his local board for physical eX-
animation no method exists whereby
he may enlist in the regulars and
have his service count on the home
quota. 1t is probable, however, that
some effort will be made to meet the
wishes of the drafted men in this re-
gard as far as possible when they
are mobilized. II cannot be done to
an unlimited extent as the regulars
and guards, as shown by yesterdays
statement are practically filed up
now.
a. Needs All II Can Get.
Yesterdays statement says that
about half the men applying for en-
listment are within the draft ages.
Those accepted will count as credits
on subsequent quotas of their dis
tricts. The statement lays stress,
however, on the fact that the coun-
try wants all the men it can get who
can De spared DIT nOLlSs
The national guard statement
shows that only the number of men
short of the 4I9,S34 figure, shown by
checking Of the muster rolls by de-
partment commanders and the rejec-
tion of any found unfit will be TAX
en- from the draft forces for the
guard service. The recruiting SER
vice expects to fill the regular army
to full war service today or tomor-
row. SO that there will probably be
a surplus OF 10000 or more men
when the full $4,000 of the first in
crement of the national army is as
sembled.
In addition recruiting throughout
the country will supplement the ex-
cess. all men who volunteer, going
into the regulars or the national
guard or into the reserve after full |
war strength is reached.
1t is regarded as likely that the |
regulations soon to be |
issued will show that the surplus of |
drafted men is to be used with a re- !
,ruit reservoir and that all the men |
will be put under training as quickly |
rs possible. A recruit depot will be |
in France from which |
regiments at the front will be kept |
illed up, drafts of men from the /
main recruit depot in this country |
being sent over to this distribution |
center as needed. In this way sick or |
wounded men will be returned when /
and a steady flow of re-
fruits to maintain active regiments
1t top fighting efficiency will be |
provided in this way.
The only hint Of the probable1
method of mobilization Of drafted
nen lies in a recent ruling by Gen.
raj Crowder which shows that the
ldiutant general may summon the
Iuotas of the districts In incre-
nenas. Division of each quota into
I've equal parts is suggested, each
,art to be called up separately as
leeded.
Under this arrangement it would
)e possible to call out at once the
nen to form the new national army
nd to summon later those who are
o compose the reserves for all ele-
nents of the army. Men temporarily
eeded in harvest fields or else
rhere could be classified by local
cards into these later increments
i order to meet emergency situa-
ions in their districts without de-
aging Organization Of new forces.