The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-09-08
MAY PICK 10000
 OFFICERS FROM
 THE DRAFT ARMY
Sec. Bakers Announcement of Third Training Camp
 Indicates This.

Washington, Sept S-The proba- bility of at least 10000 recruits of the new National Army being desig- mated for special training as officers when the present personnel of the officers training camps over the coun- try. are graduated is being considered by officials of the War Department.
 Secretary Baker has announced that third training camp will fol- low the series now in progress, and that drafted men may receive prefer ence in selecting the personnel. It is expected the next camp will train 10000 men, and that at least half of these will be designated from men in the National Army.
 Provost Marshal General Crowder issued this ruling yesterday:
 Men are not drafted for any special branch of the service or for any special work. All must report to mobilization camp with the con- tingent of their local board. When they arrive at camp a careful inquiry will be made into their special qualf- flcations, and, in so far as it is com patible with the public interest, each man will be assigned to that duty or to that branch of the military ser- vice where he can render the greatest benefit
 The men called in the draft will not be able to bring any pressure to bear to have themselves trained as officers outside of their actual qualifications and their willingness to work. The men who show the greatest intelli- gence and the strongest personality will be designated by their officers for such training. The War Department is considering still further camps and is. laying tentative plans for the train ing of at least 150,0o0 officers, but this would represent the command of an army of 100000 men. Enough men will be trained at this time to command all existing troops and at least another draft army of 5o0,0oO. Further camps will be established as 1t becomes evident that other calls are to be made for the National Army.
 A ruling issued yesterday stated that employees of the Young Mems Christian Association cannot be ex- |empted from the draft on account ot war work. An appeal for this class is refused.
 Adjutant Generals have been or dered to report weekly the number o1 white and colored troops respectively certified to their local boards. The War department wants this informa- ton so that arrangements can be made for segregation of the two races in camps and for railway accommoda- tions through States where separate Ecoaches are required for the colore6 troops.
 Formal announcement was made yesterday that work has begun on the construction of the large camps foI the United States Army at Newpor1 News, Va, and near Tenafly, N. J The statement says:
 '=irese camps are designated as concentration camps, and it is pro. posed to assemble and equip here from time to time, troops that are awaiting orders. From these camps the trpops may move to whatever To. caIity is selected as the port of de. parture.
 Each concentration camp will be capable of accommodating approxi mately 10000 men, and will consis of from 500 to 1000 buildings. "It is expected that the new camp. will be ready by Nov. 1. Work i. now beginning under direction of Col Isaac Littell, Quartermaster Corps under whose general direction the six teen cantonments were constructed" About 14,000,000 feet of lumbe will be consumed in the construction kof the Tenafly camp. The under