Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-11
War Department Depends
Upon Camps Like That of
PIattsburg to Equip Men for
Commissions.
COMPETENT OFFICERS IS
NEED OF PLANNED ARMY
War Department SuSpendS
Regulation Barring Men
More Than 35 Years Old
From Enlistment,

IsY MORNING JounHAL SPECIAL LEASED wiasl
Washington, April l0.-Army build
ing plans of the administration are to
be supplemented at once by the estab-
lishment at many points throughout
the country of civilian training camps
for officers.
The great need of the war army to
be raised will be properly equipped
officers and to aid in meeting the de-
mand the war department has decid-
ed to adopt the Plattsburg idea ON
nationwide scale Arrangements for
the camps already are being made,
and civilians desirous Of fitting them
selves for commissions in the officers
reserve corps may apply now to de-
partmental commanders. The mum
ber of camps will depend on the num-
Der of applications
A course of three months vigorous
training will be given to the prospect
i've officers, who will be organized
into companies or larger units, and go
through all the drills and exercises
of enlisted men, supplemented by lee
ture courses as to the duties of oftl-
GERS The qualities displayed by men
undergoing this training will deter
mine whether they are suited to army
life and also the rank in the reserve
corps which they are qualified to hold.
Commissions will be issued at the
conclusion of the training period TO
those accepted, who will be assigned
to units of the regular army, national
guard or the first contingent OF
troops to be raised under the draft
plans.
For Men without Experience.
The scheme is designed particularly
to meet the situation of civilians who
have had no military experience and
who are 100 old to enter the second
lieutenant grade of the reserve corps,
but are otherwise qualified by edu-
cation and capacity to become Off
GERS.
The department, it was announced
today, has suspended the regulation
limiting new enlistment in the regular
army to men not more than S5 years
of age. This was made possible by
the war declaration against Germany.
Under existing law men not more than
35 years of age could be accepted, but
to conform to the administration
army bill the maximum has now been
set at 40 years
The present authorized strength of
the regulars soon will be reached at
the present rate of enlistment IN
GLIDING all comhatant and noncombat-
ant troops and unassigned recruits,
this would mean a total of l3S00O en-
listed men. Until the president so di-
rects the regiments cannot be brought
I'd to war strength or additional regl-
ments be organized. 1t is apparent
that the administration is not inclined
to take this step until congress has
acted on the new army bill.
Supply Problem Difficult.
An exception will be made in the
case of regiments of negro troops,
however. some of which already are
over the authorized peace strength
They will be filled from waiting lists
to full wartime strength. Recruiting
for other regiments will also be pros
ecuted vigorously it is indicated, as
the process OF assembling, equlpplHs
and assigning recruits takes some
time and it is expected congress will
have acted before any considerable
number in excess of authorized
strength may be ready to join their
regiments.
The question of supplies for the in
creasng number of recruits both for
the regulars and national guard is a
difficult one, and has been complicat
ed by failure of deficiency and regu-
lar appropriation bills in the last
congress. Plenty of money will be
provided in the near future, but be-
cause of the unusual demands upon
skilled labor it may be sixty days be-
fore the great volume of deliveries
begins.