Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-07
APPLICATIONS ARE STILL
COMING IN FOR CAMP
Accepted Men VIII BE Notified To.
Morrow to- Report to
Fort Mycr.
LEARN HOW TO COMMAND MEN
Thorough Course OF instruction to
BE Given to Officers Selected for
Americas New Army Rigid
Wedding Out Process Expected.

notwithstanding the tact that the
hooks have practically closed for en-
roilmcnt for the officers reserve train
ing camps which Will open within "a
week In all parts OF the country. a
half-dozcn young men presented them
selves yesterday before Major Iardc-
man. the officer In charge of enrolment
for the Fort Mycr Camp for this dis
trict. urging their qualifications for
appointment to be officers in tho army.
The last of tho applicants will be cx-
amincd to-day. and il Is expected that
All those accepted will he notified to-
morrow. Only those men with pc
culiar equipment in personality and
training have been permitted to make
application since the set closing date
on May 4.
While the young men wait to hear
the action Of the commanding officers
OF the camps on their petitions for
admission. the War Department is re-
ported to be making elaborate prcpar-
ationS for training such AS has never
before been given in this country. Many
officers who will act as instructors will
20 this week TO visit camps in Canada.
and il Is expected that experienced
British and French soldiers. fresh from
the battle fields on the continent Will
come over TO America TO assist III pre-
pairing the officers OF the new army
for the war
ailhOuSh inc reserve officers train
ing camps will give instruction in
trench warfare. bayonct fighting and
craftsmanship as matters OF course the
main emphasis will not be placed on
those subjects. II Is aimed. rather. TO
develop In the young men The ability
10 command and to lead. and 70 inn
part the knowledge Of how TO care for
the soldiers who viii be placed under
them. After their graduation from the
training camps. the first duties Of the
reserve officers viii be TO train the
raw recruits OF the first draft which
VIII bc called into service. 1t is cx-
pcctcd. carly next fan. Tho more char
actcristic features OF modern warfare
can be learned most quickly and cf-
fcctircly at the front or within sound
OF the guns. II Is argued by those plan
ming the training course.
Picked officers Of the regular army
VIII Keep watch on the men In the
camps and grade them daily on their
progress. When the course has been
completed II VIII be possible from the
data so obtained TO judge accurately
the relative merits Of the young Off
GERS The 10000 who are considered
most efficient and desirable will b.
placed on the active list AZ once The
others who pass the examinations Viii
be commissioned In tho reserve II ia
expected that there will be at least
three times as many officers on the
rolls Of the reserve corps a, tn. end
OF the training period az can To-. used
Immediately.
WILL. BEGIN WITH
INFANTRY INSTRUCTION
Infantry instruction Viii occup.. the
first Of the three months accordiur
TO the schedule accepted at present
BEGINNING with the fundamentals the
rockies will he put through the school
OF the soldier. the squad and the COM
~. s.,,I L.
on Il large scale The 800 men who
VIII form the personnel OF each camp
VII! be hrSt organized into fifteen com
pancs. AT the end Of the first month
VIII come q selection OF men for spc-
ciai duties TO which they seem best
adapted. AZ that time there viii bc
organized two troops OF cavalry. three
batteries OF field artillery and nine
companies OF infantry in each camp
certain men viii lac sent to Fortress
Monroe for instruction in coast artil-
lcry. ana others TO different posts for
work with the Signal Corps.
The wedding out process will con-
'hue throughout the period Of the
camp. From the behavior of the indi-
Hidual ROCKY. in all circumstances. the
commanding officers will estimate his
value 10 the army. They will ind out
whether or not he will hc cool headed
under fire "a well as back OF the line
ana whether he can be depended uDor
10 see TO II that every man under him
IS properly clothed and fed and his
health conserved. The prospective of
ftcer VIII he watched also to demon
stratc whether ar not he can give
commands clearly and correctly and
have them executed whole hcartcdly
II viii be discovered also whether he
Is likely 10 he popular as q comrade
and can command respect and disci-
pine, ose who show the pure metal
nn"rr the test VIII he the men who
WI officer the new companies that are