Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-04-13
100000 Men to be Trained
This Summer.
IMMENSE COST INVOLVED
First 500,000 of Men, Nineteen to
twenty-five, to be Called by "SeIec-
tive Conscription."

An army of one million men within
had less than six months intensive
training, is the direct object of the
administration army bill.
Two millions of trained soldiers, it
is estimated, will be available in less
than two years.
Major General Hugh L. Scott, chief
of staff, is expected to go before either
the house or senate military commit
tee next Monday to outline the plan
under which approximately $3,000,OOO,-
900 has been asked to carry out the
project.
The plans provide for building up
thirty-two infantry divisions and four
cavalry divisions, distributed at six
teen training districts headquarters.
Preparations already have been made
to draft into the federal service the
entire strength of the national guard
and employ that force, supplemented
by regulars withdrawn ffom the bord-
er, in the estimate of the sixteen train
ing centers.
Five months later the first 100000
of the new army of young men would
assemble at centers to begin their
training.
The S3,OOO,0OO,OOO budget represents
only the cost of building the machine.
Its maintenance in actual war will
double the expense and, as mobiliza-
tion of the necessary reserve supplies
must parallel the Development of the
army, $6,OGO,O00,000 probably repre-
sents the total cost of the year for the
first one million men.
OF the $3.GO0,O0O,O 1000 asked, approxi-
mately one-half will go for pay and
quartermasters' supplies, including
housing the troops at training centers.
Another half million would go into ord
nance; nearly $6O,OO0,G00 into signal
cornal corps and aviation equipment;
nearly $14G,000,000 to the engineer
equipment and field works; S26,OO0,OO0
to medical stores.
The estimates include also more
than $5G0,0O0,000 to put the ordnance
equipment on war basis as to reserve
of guns and ammunition. In Europe,
under the bl1st Of day and night firing,
the whole artillery equipment of the
armies on the front lines is renewed
every four months. A three-inch gun
will last for about 10000 shots; then
it must be replaced. Larger weapons
are "shot out" sooner. The army esti-
mates take these lessons into consid-
Grafton and realize that much of the
original equipment of the army will
be used up during training work and
must be replaced when forces are sent
to the front.
The main points of the government
plan to raise an army of 100000 fol-
lows:
Fill up regular army and national
guard to war strength of more than
100000 by draft if voluntary enlist
ments are not rapid enough.
Bringing into service late in the
coming summer by "selective conscrip-
ton" the first 100000 of the new force
of men between nineteen and twenty
five years old.
A year from now second increas-
ment of 100000 youths to be called
out. These first two classes of new
men will, within year and half
or two years at most, make more than
100000 trained troops available.
To train the first 100000, 100000
commissioned and non-commissioned
officers would be drawn from the regu
lar army and national guard. For the
second increment another 100000 such
officers would be drawn as before, or
from the first section of the new army.
Provision is also made for obtain
ing officers from the officers reserve
corps, or from qualified graduates of
civilian schools. Officers up to and
including rank of colonel to be ap.
pointed by the president without con.
firmation by the senate.
Quotas of men to be supplied by
states and territories proportionate to
population.
Penalties ar provided for those Ii.
able who attempt to evade service.
Certain exemptions are made.