Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-07

made by members of the committee
that they would stand by the govern
ment. .
The committee which called on Secre-
tary Daniels included Harvey A. Zahn,
master electrician; Thomas O'Connor,
master boilermaker; James j. Mullen,
electrical machinist; Elmer A. Dean,
assistant shop superintendent; Jean
O'Brien, .toolmaker; Bert Crowley. ship
filter; John J.. Kehoe, leading machin-
list; George Powers and William Grim
bling, machinists. They were accom-
panied by Michael Francis Doyle of
Philadelphia.
No Shortage of Rifles.
There is no shortage of rifles for the
American forces sent to Europe, al
though there may be some delay in
equipping all men of the national army
with the weapon they are to use In
training.
1t was said officially at the war de-
partment that there were enough rifles
in the country to equip every man
whose duties require him to carry one,
but that the difficulty was to find the
rifles owing to the desire of army and
state officials to keep a reserve of the
weapons available in case of emer-
gency.
The forces sent abroad will carry an
average of at least two rifles a man as
an adequate protection against loss and
wear and tea.s 1t may be necessary
for a short time at the national army
training camps, however, for n COM
pany to use the available training rifles
in the morning and another company
to do its training and target practice
In the afternoon with the same weap-
ons.
This situation will be of short dura-
ton, as an enormous supply of rifles,
already ordered, will be delivered soon
after the national army forces are mo-
bilized.
No New Draft Till Spring.
A full statistical report on the OPP
erations of the draft law will be pre-
pared by the provost marshal generals
office as soon as the mobilization of
the first increment of 6S7 900 men of
the national army has been completed,
some time early in October. Pending
the preparation of the report and care
full analysis of the conditions it dis
closes no steps toward calling a Sec
ond increment to the colors will be
taken.
General Crowder said that the call
for the second increment never had
been considered at any conference at
which he was present and that he had
no indication that it had been taken up
in any way by President Wilson OF
Secretary Baker.
The first increment will fill all the
training areas-sixteen national guard
camps and sixteen national army can
tonments-to capacity, and there will
be a surplus of men besides those as
signed to the regular army. The reg
ulars are now $4,000 above full author
lied war strength by voluntary enlist
ment, and the national guard is In a
similar situation.
Training facilities already are taxed
to make ready for the front men now
available, and it is regarded as very
unlikely that organization of an addi-
tional 100000 men of the national army
can be begun until the early spring of
1918. Neither quarters nor personnel
to train the force will be available be-
fore hat time.
Inequities of an unavoidable nature
will be shown in the statistical report.
There probably will be some amended
regulations based on actual experience
with the first increment, and some
amendments to the law may be thought
desirable by congress.
1t is possible that some provision will
be made whereby all the sons OF one
family will not be taken. A new def
milton of the status of married men
may be one of the things acted upon.
Another matter to be worked out is
the status of aliens. Still another is
the status of men who have passed be-
yond draft age since being drafted and
that of those who have become Of draft
age in the meantime.
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