Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-05-04
TWENTY OR MORE BIG CAMPS
WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN
UNITED STATES.
LARGE AREAS ARE NECESSARY
Members of Officers Reserve Corps
Already Are Receiving Instructions
CLEARING Contrast Between Amer
lean and German Preparedness.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

tfOnal army, whether it be vOlun-
teer or a conscript army, will be
trained for service in score of camps
to be established in different parts
of the United States.
It is possible that the number of
camps authorized will be increased
beyond the number given. This will
depend upon the facilities which the
selected places offer not only for drill,
but for the caring for troops in a san
itary Sense.
An army Of half million distribut-
ed in twenty camps would mean about
$4,000 soldiers to & camp. 1t will be
seen that the ordinary army post will
not be large enough in the area of it's
multitude. Therefore it is possible
that some of the existing posts which
are we'll situated will receive COM
paratively small number of troops for
instruction, and that at some great
open spaces in the land the training
of the greater numbers, equivalent in
some cases to army divisions, viii take
place.
Army men who have made a study
of conditions throughout the country
believe that less than one-quarter OF
the young men gathered together for
instruction will have had any prelimi-
nary instruction. There will be in the
ranks, of course, many men who have
attended private military schools, and
others who have received some first
soldier lessons In the state universe
ties or in the high schools of the
cities, but the great mass of the re-
cruits will be green, and will need
complete lessons in everything from
the position of soldier to maneuvers
in extended order.
lnstructing the officers.
In these dispatches prior to this
time the need of officers for the great
army which is to be raised has been
discussed. 1t is understood to be the
intention to establish officers schools.
Already men who have taken or who
are to take examinations for the Off
GERS reserve corps are under instruc-
ton at some Of the posts of the coun-
try. At the engineer barracks in
Washington something over a hundred
young men from the departments who
are skilled in certain lines of work
necessary for the supply of an army
in the field are taking lessons in the
duties of junior officers.
It is expected that in the ranks of
ha orb
men who have been given military in
struction at good schools, to enable
the officers in charge to select mate
rial for the noncommissioned ranks.
The army of 100000 men, whether
raised by the volunteer method or by
CONSUMPTION, ought to contain some
fairly we1l-seasoned material. The
thing that must be done, however,
even to those who have had some
years Of military drill at private in
stitutions, is to teach them the spirit
of the regular army discipline, the
self-reliance and the knowledge Of
how to- enforce orders without arOus-
ing the resentment of men unaccus-
toned to receiving orders.
The camps which are to be estab-
ilished will present at the first rather
motley appearance. Presumably men
will be sent direct from the recruit
ing stations or the conscript stations,
whichever they are to be called. to the
encampment grounds.
What a difference there will be be-
tween the condition Of John Smith,
American, who reports for military
duty. and Hans Schmidt, German, who
reported for military duty in Germany
three years ago! John Smith will re-
port in civilians clothes and probably
will continue to wear them for a long
time while he is learning to square
his shoulders, depress his toes, make
an about face and do the setting-up
drill. Hans Schmidt, although he may
have been out Of service for years,
reported direct to military depot,
where he found uniform from shoes
to cap which had been made for him
personally, bearing his name and
ready to put on. In addition, Hans
Schmidt found his military equipment
in place and in order and intended for
him personally. Hans, with his pre-
vious military training, was ready
within a week to take his place in
the fighting line
That was Germany's preparation so
far as it's man power was concerned.
Uncle Sans preparation is about to
begin.
Recruits Can't Be Sent Vet.
Some Of the opposition which de-
veloped In congress to the plan to
raise an army by consumption in order
that rio hand poor, high and low, might
share alike the duty Of service, was
based on the feeling expressed by men,
bers that American youth would volun-
teer Instantly if it was certain that
they were to be sent quickly to the
fighting line. In other words, that
Americans want to fight and fight "off
the reels
Army officers in Washington are try