Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-07
LITTLE DANGER ATTENDANT UP.
ON TRANSPORT OF SOLDIERS
TO WESTERN WAR ZONE.
uoNvoYs WOULD PROVIDE
REQUIRED PROTECTION
Iowa Guard Officer Points to Work Of
Volunteer Forces in Europe as Evil
denee That System Is Effective
large Number Of Iowa Guardsmen
to Be Selected For Promotion.

Des Moines. May 7.--Maior Edwin
Z. Lucas, assistant adiutant general.
believes IL will be possible to safely
convoy American troops to Europe >
that they will be in comparatively lit
the danger from submarines. He points
10 the fact that the Canadian trooTS
have been taken over to England safe
~ and troop ships have not been in
iured by submarines. although the
subs have been signalIy successful
With merchant ships
Battleships. torpedo boat destroyers
submarine chasers and similar fighting
craft can convoy troops across the
seas successfully, he declares SIM
ilarly he believes it will he possible 10
get food across TO the Allies.
The newer ships are being provide /
with AN outer casing Of steel nettinE,
which is proving successful in ward!r Z
off the shots from the submarines and
other safety devices are being workt |
out which are helpful in Combattll :
the subs.
The work Of the volunteer troops IN
Europe has been watched with keenc {
interest by national guard officers here
who point to their achievements rs
proof that the volunteer army IS a.
vvay5 Il strong EGhtinG force. The Can
adams. raised through volunteer meth
DDS. have done some wonderful fight
ing, the national guard officers poiit
nmt. and the Canadian troops ha'"
been in the forefront at Vimy R!de &.
Ypres, and at other great battles -
the war The Canadians are credl,t 1
with taking Vn1y Ridge.
Guard Awaits Call.
National guard officers here look fcr
orders calling out the Second and
Third regiments as soon as the con-
scription measure Is finally adopted by
congress There We're rumors prac-
ttcalIy every day last week that the
guard was to be called out
Governor Harding. who returned on
Sunday from attending the conference
of governors held at Washington, D.
c., is in favor of organizing companies
of home guards or new units OF the
national gt1ar1 - replace the men who
are called away to the colors He be-
Iieves this can be done under the ma
tionaI defense act The war depart
ment, however, thus far has taken the
stand that the new military act does
not provide for such additional organ
izationA
It was announced by the adjutant
generals office today that many or
CARNATIONS have been formed in the
towns and cities of the state which
the war department will not accept at
this time, but which may be called
upon later. These organizations num-
Der anywhere from 2,008 to 1000 men,
and range all the way from squads in
the small towns TO regiments at the
state university. Iowa State college
and at other educational institutions
During April, 2,T0o men were en-
listed in the Iowa guard at a cost FOR
publicity Of s.. Ass. There are many
new men in the service who will re-
quire considerable training before talk
ing to the field
In Iowa, as elsewhere, the navy has
proven far more attractive 20 the young
men than other branches OF the ser
vice. The navy is recognized az most
efficiently organized with big oppor-
tunities for service and for advance
ment
Chance For Enlisted Men.
The highly trained enlisted men IN
the. iowa National Guard will have
chance for commissions in the officers
reserve corps after all.
Adjutant General Logan has re-
ceived a telegram from the chief Of the
Militia Bureau Of the War Department.
saying that authority had been granted
allowing 81 enlisted men and as many
a.ternates in the Iowa Guard to attend
the Fort Smelling camp and try for
commissions In the reserve
The commanders of organizations
will select these men at the rate Of %
per regiment and eight each for the
battalion OF artillery and squadron Of
cavalry. In the case Of the Second
and Third Infantry and artillery and
cavalry, the recommendations will pass
through the office Of tho adjutant gen
eral to be approved or disapproved.
In the case Of the First Infantry. now
In federal service, the IS men Will be
placed on detached service by the de-
partment commander.
The men after enlisting IN the train
ing camp. will be discharged from the
guard.
Organization commanders are urged
to pick their best men for the training
camp, and In case there are not enough
good men in any organization their
places can be taken by alternates from
other organizations.
BY this means the government
stands an excellent chance Of securing
the best non commissioned officers and
giving them q chance for commissions
81, the army to be formed for tho war
with Germany. Until the issuing Of
I this order such men were apparently
: barred from competing for commits
eions, because they could not escape
their present duty to attend the Fort
Aneliing camp. With their experience
on the border 1t is expected that many
4 of these men will win commissions.