The state herald., 1917-02-16
PLAN MOBILIZATION
OF CIVILIAN ARMY
War College Heads Prepare for
Handling Of Great Vol.
unteer Force.
RAPID TRAINING PROPOSED
Special Attention Given to Selection Of
Officers Qualified by Experi-
enee to Lead Men
Properly.

WunMuBtun.-1He Wur COlIege OIL
vision of the general staff of the Unit
ed States army has complete plans
prepared for the mobilization of cltl-
GEMS army. These plans were COM
pleted some time ago in anticipation
Of the time when the United States
might be called upon to enter into
hostilitles against first-class power.
These plans were based, 1t is said, up
on the possibility that the first call
for volunteers might be for 100000
men. The war college recently pre-
pared an 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 In the event Of
war with q first.class power the
United States would require not less
than half 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
tonal defense is conditionally placed"
subject to President's Call.
The organization Of volunteer
armies can only be undertaken follow
ing the presidential proclamation
stating the number needed. and on
this subject the war college says:
Volunteer forces may be raised, or
ganized and maintained only during
the existence or imminence 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 lim-
Its as may be fixed by law. 1t 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 fur rs
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
tn for their respective states, the exist
ing militia organizations that will be
received into the volunteers. the new
organizations that It is desired to
raise. ind the maximum and minimum
strength of organizations"
All terms Of enlistments. 1t Is point
ed out, twill be the same ns 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-bodied," and
who is not within the nges stipulated
for that service under the law as It
exists ut the time Of the presidents
call. Neither Gun any man be en-
listed who does not speak the English
language. while persons under eight
cen years Of age Gun be accepted only
with the signed approval md consent
of the parent or guardian Of that per-
son.
Recruiting, Rendezvous and pepota.
The war college continues:
"with view to recruiting md main
taining NIL organizations OF the land
forces us near their prescribed
strength as practicable. the necessary
rendezvous and depots will be estab.
iished by the secretary Of war and
will be directly controlled by him. Here
the recruits will be enlisted and
trained. For the purposes Of instruc.
tion and discipline. the troops Mt the
recruit depots mny be organized Into
companies md battalions, ut the dis.
cretion OF the secretary OF war. The
noncommissioncd officers and privates
will be Of such grades and numbers us
the president mny prescribe.
at is apparent that the recruits mt
the rendezvous and dcpots are intend.
ed to form n reserve battalion for each
regiment or equivalent thereof Of reg.
uinrs md volunteers only; for the
net also provides that in order to mnin.
tain the land militia organization at
their maximum strength the recruit
rendezvous and dcpots In any state or
territory may. nt the request OF the
governor thereof. enlist and train re-
cruits for land militin In the service
Of the United stntcs from such stnte
or territory. All the officers required
for such recruit rendezvous and depots
will be volunteers Of the proper nrm Of
the service.
Appointment Of offIeers.
"All volunteer officers nrc appointed
by tho president. but the number md
grade Of such officers shnil not exceed
the number aud grade Of like officers
provided for n like force Of tho rcgu.
lar army. and they will bc subject to
such assignment to duty and trans
fcrs a. the president mny direct.
I'm order that tho lives Of those
patriotic citizens who mny volunteer
t. al. "a a taA aH