Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-04

has been working with grenades ana
automatic rifles, while another has
been working out military problems
in maneuvers. Another unit has been
in the instruction trenches which
bring them as near as possible to ac'
tual fighting conditions.
WITHIN HEARING OF BATTLES.
Many of the former guardsmen in
training have heard guns roaring IN
the distance. They are all being sly-
en- the same course Of instruction as
the first contingents Of regulars have
undergone.
The ouardsmen are all In good
health. The reason why Il Is not per-
mjtted to mention units by name 10
that if one 10 mentioned the way 10
open to mention all others, which
means the revealing Of Identification
numbers and other information which
is Of importance to the enemy.
But for the information Of the rela-
tives and families Of the men. every
one who sailed from the United States
has arrived safely in France.
NOT ONE MAN LOST.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 3Q.-An'
nouncement of the arrival In France
OF the first national guard units gave
the first Official notice that an extern
sive troop movement has been accom-
plished despite hostile submarines,
shortage of troops and supply ships
and other obstacles but without the
loss of a man. Thousands of men
have been moved to the seaboard
from all parts Of the country, loaded
on transports and safely landed In
France without any general knowl-
edge Of the facts having been dis
closed to the country at large.
LARGE MOVEMENT COMPLETED.
War department officials were graft.
fed at General Pershing's decision to
announce the arrival Of the national
guard forces, but permission to pub.
lish the designations of the guard
units now at the training centers in
France still is withheld.
It can be stated, however. that the
brief dispatch of today covers a large
movement that has been in progress
for several weeks. The next stage
will be actual occupation of front line
trenches.
The entire country shares in the
honor Of having its representative
units now at the front in the world
war
OTHERS TO FOLLOW RAPIDLY.
Secretary Baker has announced
that as fast as> men and ships are
ready they will be combined and addi-
tional forces sent to join General
Pershing. By this means guard divi-
sions first to show themselves fitted
for transportation to the training
camps in France will be the first to 60.
It appears possible that the re.
grouping of national army divisions.
made necessary by the use of drafted
men to fill up depleted national guard
divisions, will determine the order Of
the first national army units to be
sent over.
TO SEND DRAFTED MEN.
In that re-grouping two national
army divisions were formed, one
representing the whole eastern sec
ton of the country and one equally
representative of all middle states.
All OF the far west is already in the
national army division at Camp Lew.
is, American Lake, Washington
If the same policy Is followed with
relation to the national army that has
been followed in connection with the
national guard. it seems likely that
these three divisions, other things
such as training and equipment being
equal, would be the first of the ma
tional army to go over, as every state
in the union would then have national
army men at the front as it now has
national guardsmen.