The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-07-20
SERIES OF OFFICERS
TRAINING CAMPS OPEN AUG. 27

No applications for these will be con-
sidered later than July 18th. South
Carolina is allowed quota of 25t men
for the second camp for this district
which will be held at Fort Ogletlorpe,
Ga. The War Department is anxious
to have men between the ages of 81
and Al years in this camp, though
many younger men will, of course, be
accepted, and all eligible men are
urged to apply at once.
First Lieutenant II. T. Pillans,
Coast Artillery Corps, U. S. A., is the
examining officer for South Carolina
and applicants should address him at
the Citadel, Charleston, S. c. Appli-
cation blanks will be sent to men re-
questing them, and also memoran-
dunn of information setting forth full
instructions and information regard
ing the camp, the pay, etc. Accepted
men will receive transportation to and
from the camp, subsistence while
there, and pay of 500 monthly during
the three months of training. 1t is
important that interested men apply
without delay as the time limit for
applications is July 18th.
1t is believed that the poor showing
so far is the result of a lack of under
standing on the part of the public of
the purpose of the camps, the chances
offered, and the method of procedure
to apply for admission to the camps,
and not due to any lack of patriotism.
South Carolina will not admit, and
should not admit, that it is less pa
triotic than any other State in the
Union. The submission of an appli-
cation to attend these camps is a pa
triotic act. All red-blooded men with
proper qualifications should show
their patriotism by sumbitting their
applications at once.
To provide officers for the drafted
forces of the National Army, the War
Department has adopted the policy of
commissioning all new officers Of the
line Qnfantry, Cavalry, Field ard
Coast Artillery purely on the basis
of demonstrated ability for three
months observation and training in
the Officers Training Camps. Thus,
the appointment of the officers of the
new armies will be made entirely on
merit and free from all personal or
other influence.
AS an emergency measure to pro-
vide officers for the first 100000 draft
ed troops the War Department has put
in operation 16 Officers Training
Camps with total attendance of
about 10000. These 16 camps corre-
spond to the territorial divisions in
which it is planned to raise troops
under the Draft Act of May 18, 1917.
These camps, which began May IS,
1917, are expected to provide line of
ficers well qualified as to character
and training and sufficient for the
first increment of 100000, with re-
serve for that increment.
Following the policy of commission
ing officers on demonstrated wS4fa, it
is intended that, after the first incre-
ment of 100000 has been organized,
officers will be obtained by promot-
ing officers and men already in the
Regular Army, National Guard, and
drafted forces, thus giving to those
who have volunteered or have been
drafted for military service full op-
portunity to earn promotion to the
exclusion of those not in actual mil
itary service.
The period devoted to the organiza-
ton of the first 100000 must there
fore be devoted to training and select
ing officers for the second 100000 to
supplement those promoted from
troops in service.
To meet this situation a second Sc
ries of Officers Training Camps will
be held beginning August 81 1917,
with the definite mission of producing
a body Of line officers Unfantry, Cav
airy, Field and Coast Artillery capa-
bic of filing all places in the grades
above lieutenant and many of the
places in the grade of lieutenant in
the second 100000 troops. The train
ing camps to be established for this
purpose will afford those not in the
military service or drafted in the fu-
ture the last opportunity to become
officers. Also, in connection with these
camps it is to be noted that mature
and experienced men are needed to
fill the higher grades (frst lieutenant,
captain, major and a few lieutenant
colonels) in the second 100000.
The date for all camps is August
9th to November 26th, 1917, and sue
cessful applicants from this State will
be sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. The
maximum age limit for applicants, ex-
cept those noted in the special classes
in the memorandum of information
which is sent to all those requesting
application blanks, is al years. In
the excepted cases referred to, it is
so years. The minimum age limit
for all applicants is 20 years and nine
months. However, in order to obtain
the experienced class of men desired,