The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-22
M0B|L|z|NG NATIONAL ARMY.
SEChEFARY OF WAR ASKS AP.
PREPARATIONS TO EQUIP TWO
AND "A HALF MILLION
SOLDIERS.
Three Hundred Thousand Civilians
Entering National Army Stir Conn.
try to Enthusiasm.

Washington, Sept. 19.-While moh-
ilizatiOn Of the first major increment
OF the the National Army was pro-
ceeding today throughout the conn
Try, Secretary Baker and the chiefs of
the war department appeared before
the senate appropriations committee
10 present requests for an additional
S2S7,416,O00 with which to provide
equipment for a total rorce of 2,3OO,-
| 600 men.
included among the items is the
ordnance equipment for the next 5OO,-
900 men of the National Army, al
though the 100000 or more men on
the move today toward the training
cantonments are only half of the first
call.
Dispatches from all parts of the
country indicated that mobilization
was being carried forward smoothly
and amid scenes of popular enthus-
iasm. The National Army men were
given a tremendous send off as they
trooped to their trains, led by the To-
cal selection board officials. Almost
the entire as per cent. of the first call
force of $4,000 men will be under
military control and training by Sat-
urday Every essential for the health
and comfort os the men had been
provided for.
There are busy days ahead at the
cantonments. Not only must the men
be examined by military doctors and
finally accepted for army service, but
they must be organized Immediately
| into provisional companies before
given their final assignments. The
qualifications of each man are to be
noted and his ultimate duty as far as
practicable will bear some relation to
the training he has received in civil
life and his own qualifications.
Time will be required to determine
what men of the National Army are
to be transferred to the National
| Guard divisional camps to fill those
divisions to fighting strength. The
organization of the units of the Nat
ional Army itself can not be complet-
ed until this transfer has been made
Pending the time when the fighting
forces of the National Army begin to
take shape, it is not essential that full
uniform equipment be available for
every man. Preliminary instructions
can we'll enough be given in citizens
clothes if necessary.
Regular officers assigned to COM
nand regiments of the National Army
are looked upon somewhat enviously
by their comrades who remain with
the regulars or go to the National
Guard. 1t is a common expression
among these officers that the task of
training the absolutely new forces is
inspiring to a man who likes to see
his command develop from day to
day.
Freedom from old prejudices or
from inernal political factions, which
beset some Guard organizations, are
on the side of the new army. There
are many officers who believe it will
become as a fighting force the finest
body of troops in the world.
Secretary Baker said today that he
thought General Crowder's suggestion
that all registered men be examined
for military service so as to eliminate
the disqualified from consideration in
possible future calls would be car
ried out. There has been no an
niuncement concerning replies from
the State governors to whom General
Crowder submitted the question re-
| Gently.