The sun., 1917-09-19
Crowder Appeals to Mayors
to Shut Saloons Before
Mobilization Starts.
ZIG TEST FOR RAILROADS
Troop Trains Likely to Delay
Regular Traffic-Shortage
of Army OvercOats.

WAshlNoAosNs SSPs- ~ iuoi Va
Z million Of Americas young men Sc
hcted for service In the National Army
are scheduled to leave their homes to-
SORROW and converge upon the sixteen
santonments where they are to be made
hte soldiers.
The transportation of these men from
DER homes TO the camps will constitute
sAe largest troop movement ever UNDER
taken In this country. II will be Amer
kas drst mobilization on a scale ap-
Dseanhing that in European countries.
~ evidence Of the importance at
Achsd by the War Department to the
event Brig Gen. Crowder tonight made
. special plea to Governors to consider
he advisability Of closing saloons and
taking other steps to avoid disorder.
his was the telegram that Gen. Crow
II sent to the Governors OF all States:
"A large per cent. of your population
y about to leave home for the uncer-
taintes Of a soldiers life. While not an
occasion for sorrow, 1t is a day for So
lmnity. II is especially inappropriate
that II be marred by the untoward events
which drunkenness brings in it's train
Therefore l earnestly suggest that
you consider the advisability of meas
ures looking TO the closing Of saloons
Curing such hours preceding entraining
n the next and subsequent mobilization
days as may seem proper to you"
Railroads' Greatest Task.
War Department officials are watch
ing with no little interest and anxiety
pttraAv Al.
from their homes and despatching them
10 training camps. One reason for this
10 that 1t will constitute the most severe
task the war has yet imposed upon the
transportation machine.
The task the railroads will be called
upon to perform will be that Of gather
Ing up these men in small groups and
bringing them together in the sixteen
cantonments. This will involve a preci-
don Of schedules such as was never be-
Ssr attempted.
The plan has been in charge Of George
Hodges. executive secretary of the rail-
way war board here. who has had daily
conversations with the War Department
Mr. Hodges has not worked out the
plan himself, but has seen to 1t that
each district committee Of railroad men
knew what 1t would be called upon to do
tomorrow. and arranged for train
movements accordingly.
There is scarcely a railroad in the
united States of any size that will not
feel the effect Of the movement Of
men toward the training camps. Where
10 IN foreign countries all other traffic
10 generally suspended for at least part
H the time to permit of mobilization.
n 10 not the plan here to cancel other
trains or suspend the regular movement
o. freight and passengers.
That delay will result Is. of course.
expected. The probability is that all over
the country for the next few days. reg
ulAr freight and passenger traffic to a
considerable extent will feel the effect
Of this addition to the regular load
In some cases the railroads will be
called upon to move troop trains more
than 1000 miles.
40 Per Cent. for Upton.
Every cantonment in the country Is
n receive 40 per cent. Of the total num-
ber OF men assigned to 1t within the
next hve days with the exception OF
Camps Dix. Meade and Upton. which
are TO receive 25. 35 and 20 per cent.
respectively. War Department officials
are confident that the railroads will
prove equal to the task imposed upon
n
In this respect
The War Department has faced big
problem. not only in having the can
tcnments ready to receive such a large
body Of men but also In having food
and other supplies ready. All reports
tonight indicated that the mobilization
would proceed smoothly and that in
most cases the men would find things
all ready for them when they reached
camp.
In a statement tonight the War De-
partment says the enormous task OF
obtaining equipment and supplies for
me army Is moving satisfactorily. Some
o. the men of the National Army may
oe only partially equipped for some time
aiter they are mobilized. and no attempt
viii be made TO furnish them with full
var equipment until the eve Of their
departure for Europe
Some civilian clothing, such as over
coats. will have to he used for a time
the clothing industry has not yet
ought up with its work
Guard 10 Get Some Drafted Men.
Seventeen divisions Of the National
Guard have been organized but with
the exception Of the New York. Penn
NVania and few others and the For
y-second Division. which soon will en-
narN for France, they are not at maxi
mum war strength. The fighting strength
VI me seventeen divisions under the new
"oles ~ organization would be 623, 900
men supplemented by many thousands
auxiliary troops. Whatever def
e'ehces there are will be supplied
promptly from the National Army. as
'ne guard will go first 10 the front.
since th- President called the firs
n"ooo men Of the National Army th'
aghal Corps, including the aviation sec
.,on has heen greatly expa nded, Nearly
io"'oon additional men must be trans
etred TO this service alone The Med
raj Corps also has been greatly in
creased and numerous necessary auxili
Sry units for immediate duty abroad no
,,nought OF when the call was made hav'
oeen organized. Where enlisted men o
me guard or the Regular Army hav'
oesn taken their places will have to b.
"'led with National Army men.
30 FAR as known no definite figure a
20 the probable total deficiency In mel
nas been compiled in the absence o
complete reports from all guard division
mo auxiliary corps. II Is not unlikely
aoWeVer that when the National Arm,
slWsons are organized many vacancie
Nil! be found at the cantonments and
viii be necessary either to make a sec
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