The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-23
PLAN MOBILIZATION
Of CIVILIAN ARMY
War College Heads Prepare for
Handling Of Great VOL
unteer Force.
RAPID TRAINING PROPOSED
Special Attention Given 20 Selection Of
Officers Qualified by Expert.
ence 20 Lead Men
Properly.


WaShington.-The war college di-
vision of the general stan of the Unit
ed States army has complete plans
prepared for the mobilization of citi-
ZenS army. These plans were COM
pletcd some time ago in anticipation
of the time when the United States
might be called upon to enter into
hoStilitieS against tirst-class power.
These plans were based, IL is said, up
on the possibility that the first call
for volunteers might be for 100000
men. The war college recently pre-
pared nm official paper dealing with
the raising of volunteer army.
"Under existing laws and under con-
temporaneous conditions herewith"
says the war college, ut has hereto
fore been assumed that I'm the event OF
n war with first-class power the
United States would require not less
than half n million Of men for the first
line, behind which could be prepared
the greater army of citizen soldiers
upon whom our main reliance for ma
tionul defense is conditionally placed
Subject to Presidents Call.
The organization of volunteer
armies can only be undertaken follow
ing the presidential proclamation
stating the number needed, aud on
this subject the war college says:
Volunteer forces may be raised, or
ganizcd and maintained only during
the existence or immincnce of war,
and only after congress shall have au-
thorized the president To raise such
forces. Congress could, however, by
legislative enactment, authorize the
president To raise such forces In time
OF peace.
"When so authorized, the president
will issue his proclamation, stating the
number of men desired for each arm,
corps, or department, within such linn
its as may be fixed by law. II Is prob
able that the proclamation Will also re-
cite the causes that make the call
necessary and will state that the en-
listed men shall be taken, as far as
practicable, from the several states
territories and District Of Columbia In
proportion To the respective pOpula'
tions thereof.
"FollowIng the call Of the president
for volunteers, the secretary Of war
notifies the governors, etc, AS In call
for militia, informing them Of the quo
On for their respective states, the exist
ing militia organizations that viii he
received into the volunteers, the new
ORGANIZATIONS that il is desired 10
raise. and the maximum and minimum
strength of organizations
All terms Of enistments, II IS point
ed out, "will be the same as that for
the regular army, exclusive Of reserve
periods and no person can be en-
listed for the volunteer forces "WhO
is not effective and able-bodicd,' ana
who is not within the ages stipulated
for that service under the law Hs II
exists at the time Of the presidents
call. Neither can any man bc en-
listed who does not spenk the English
language. while persons under eight
cen years OF age can be accepted only
with the signed approval and consent
Of the parent or guardian Of that per
son.
Recruiting, Rendezvous and Depots.
The war college continues:
with View To recruiting and main
taining all organizations Of the land
forces as near their prescribed
strength az practicable, the necessary
rendezvous and dcpots will be esthb-
lished by the secretary Of war and
Will be directly controlled by him. Here
the recruits will be enlisted ana
trained. For the purposes OF instruc-
ton and discipline, the troops nt the
recruit depots may be organized Into
companies and battalions, ~ the dis
cretlon Of the secretary Of war. The
nOncommlssiOncd officers and priyntes
will be of such grades and numbers ns
the president may prescribe.
at is apparent that the recruits ~
the rendezvous and dcpOts are Intend
cd 10 form u reserve battalion for each
regiment or equivalent thereof OF reg
ulars and volunteers only; Tor th'
act also provides that I'm order 10 main
tain the land militia organization nj
their maximum strength the recruit
rendezvous and depOts ln any state oi
territory may. ~ the request of the
governor thereof, enlist and train re-
cruits for land militia In the service
Of the United States from such state
or territory. All the officers required
for such recruit rendezvous and dcpot'
will be volunteers OF the proper arm oi
the service.
Appointment Of Officers.
"All volunteer officers are appolntea
by the president, but the number and
grade OF such officers shall not exceed
the number and grade Of Ike officers
provided for like force OF the regu
lar army, and they will be subject Il
such assignment 10 duty and trans
fers as the president may direct.
"In order that the lives Of those
patriotic citizens who may yolunteei
for service may be safeguarded on'
conserved and not risked under per
sons lacking ln experience In the care