Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-09-19
Contingent Starting Today Rep
reSents About Forty-five per
Cent of Total Quota Under
First Call by Uncle Sam,
NATIONAL GUARD TO
BE FILLED UP SOON
Deficiencies to Be Supplied
Promptly From Lists CoingI
Now Into Military Service of
Country,

tsY MORNING JOURNAL spEciAy LEASED w,RHl
Washington, Sept. 1S.-Marshalled
for the last time as civilians and un-
der civilian authority, more than 300,-
600 men of the national army will go
forward tomorrow to the sixteen cam
tonments to be trained for the battle
against German autocracy Their
next move will be as fighting men to-
ward the battle fields of France.
The whole nation will be astir with
the movement of the selectfve forces.
The men represent approximately As
per cent of the total quota under the
first call from each of nearly 5000
local boards. Already at the camps
is the advance guard of s per cent of
the total, composed of experienced
men, including cooks. Out of this has
.hef,r ere sA.sa 2 srci.te ;ga.l iststi5aA ~
into which the second increment will
begin to be absorbed tomorrow with
little confusion. When the last men
of this increment arrive the camps
will house half of the first call forces,
or S4S,5O0 men, and the other half
will follow as rapidly as quarters and
equipment are made available.
Supplies Being Secured.
In statement tonight the war de-
partment says the enormous task of
obtaining equipment and supplies for
the army is moving satisfactorily.
Some,of the men of the national army
may be only partially equipped for
some time after they are mobilized
and no attempt will be made to fur
nish them with full war equipment
until the eve of their departure for
Europe. Some civilian clothing, such
as overcoats, will have to be used for
time, as the clothing industry has
not as yet caught up with its work.
With the mobilization of one-half
of the $4,000 men of the first call
under the selective service law in
progress, the question arises as to
whether the number of men will be
sufficient to fill units of the national
guard and national army. There are
indications that a deficiency in men
will be disclosed when official reports
from all the thirty-two training camps
are available.
National Guard Short.
Seventeen divisions. of the national
guard have been organized, but with
the exception of the New York, Penn
sylvania and a few others, and the
Fofty-second division, which will soon
embark for France they are not at
maximum war strength. The fighting
strength of the seventeen divisions
under the new tables of organization
would be, $4,000 men, supplemented
by many thousands of, auxiliary
troops. Whatever deficiencies there
are will be supplied promptely from
the national army as the national
guard will go first to the front.
Since the president called the first
$4,000 men of the national army,
the signal corps, including the avia-
ton section, has been greatly expand
ed Nearly 100000 additional men
must be transferred to this service
alone. The medical corps also has
been increased greatly and numerous
necessary auxiliary units for duty
abroad, not thought of when the call
was made, have been organized.
Where enlisted men of the guard or
the regular army have been taken.
their places will have to be filled with
national army men.
Deficiency Not Known.
So far as known no definite figure
as to the probable total deficiency in
men has been compiled nor any esti-
mate prepared. 1t is not unlikely,
however, that when the national army
divisions are organized many vacan-
cies will be found at the cantonments
and it will be necessary either to make
a second call on the drafted forces or
to train incomplete divisions. Divis-
ions will go to France only at maxi
mum strength.
In statement today the war de-
partment says the industries Of the
country are expanding rapidly to meet
the army supply demands, and only
minor shortages are expected at the
training camps. Officials regard the
food situation as satisfactory.
Clothing Shortage Serious.
The problem of obtaining clothing
and other equipment. however. has
presented many obstacles, most Of
which, however, have been overcome.