Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-05-25

L
of age to register for military service
and setting the date for registration.
Call to colors September I.
Indications are that registration will |
begin about June 3, to be completed |
within five days and to be followed by
the process of selection which will de-
termine the first 100000 men to be
called to the colors about September 1.
Meanwhile the war department is
pushing vigorously its preparations to
mobilize the National Guard, which,
with the regulars, forms the frst-line
army.
1t was announced that all existing
regiments of the guard will be called
into service by August 5, and officials
estimate that with from a month to six
weeks intensive training these troops
will be ready to go forward for final
preparation behind the fighting lines in
Europe for the fighting that is before
them.
Movement From Border On.
Regular army regiments already are
in motion northward from the border,
preparatory to the expansion Of the
regular service to full war strength
Of the 1S3, 1893 men necessary to bring
the regulars up to the 293, 900 mark,
| "A ,933 already have been recruited and
| the remainder are expected to come in
| before June Is.
| The National Guardsmen will be
drafted into the federal service in
three increments on July Is, July %
and August 5. AS a general order is
| issued by the president drafting spe-
| cific regiments, the force will cease to
be militia and become part of the
armies of the United States. They will
be relieved of the limitations upon use
of the militia and be available for serv-
ice in any part of the world.
Units Ordered Filled.
State authorities were authorized to
fill present regiments or other units
up to full war strength, making a
force of approximately 329,954 men
and 9,S47 officers. No new National
Guard organization will be accepted
by the federal government until this
is done and reserve battalions for
each regiment organized.
The result will be virtually to triple
the present strength of the guard, but
reports to the department show heavy
recruiting in all states.
The department announced also the
distribution by military departments
of the 16 divisions of the new selec-
tive draft army and the 16 National
Guard divisions for training purposes
All the guard divisional environments
and most of the Selective army camps
will be in the southern part of the
country.
First Force Seven Divisions.
In all, the forces first to be formed
will comprise seven divisions of regu
lars, four of which will be available
for mobile duty in continental United
States, supplemented by 16 National
Guard divisions and later by 16 selec
tive army divisions. Behind this force
a second call on the selective forces
provided for in the bill, will add II
additional divisions.
State and municipal officials already
, have been given a preliminary outline
of the work that will fall to them il
+ carrying out registration of the ney
armies. General Crowder, who viii
supervise the work, believes full &C
operation and quick action can be re
lied upon.
1t is regarded as unlikely that tn
, registration will show the exact 10
! 100000 persons liable fixed by tn
, census estimate.
- Analysis of the war department
!. statement regarding mobilization O
= the National Guard shows that equip
ment for all the force is not e2
a pected to be ready until August. B
that time, however, the redouble
: output of American factories will b
= able to furnish clothing, small arm
= and other equipment for the selectiv
army to be assembled a month late
as well for the full strength of th
regulars and the Guard.
{ Must Select Officers.
e During the interval between th
- mobilization of the guard and req
II lars and the calling to the colOrs {
il the first 100000 of the selective arm
y a force of 100000 officers and MOI
'e commissioned men must be selecte
| to train the new army.
y. They will be taken from the officer
IL training camps now in progress an
le from all ranks and grades of II
le regulars and guardsmen.
All cavalry units of the Nations
5 Guard will be drafted dismounted.
1t is regarded as probable that nuI
'e ber of these organizations will be G
L fered an opportunity to be convertt
)r into field artillery forces, as the gl
G divisions must be supplemented wit
out delay.
Vote Limit on Draft.
II After the army bill had been pc
&" fected in both houses of congress al
io sent to President Wilson for sign
&c ture the senate adopted an amendme
sc to the war budget bill to put conscri
vi ton out of force four months after t
Il end of the war.
" The amendment had the support
u senators who unSucceSsfully foug
ny the conscription plan and fought u
et successfully to confine the new arr