The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-02-23
PLAN MOBILIZATION
OF CIVILIAN ARMY
War College Heads Prepare for
Handling of Great Vol
unteer Force.
RAPID TRAINING PROPOSED
Special Attention Given to Selection Of
Officers Qualified by Expert.
enee to Lead Men
Properly.

Washington.5The war college d.
vision of the general staff of the Unit
ed States army has complete plans
prepared for the mobilization of a citi-
zens' army. These plans were COM
pleted some time ago in anticipation
of the time when the United States
might be called upon to enter Into
hostilities against a first-class power.
These plans were based, it is said, up
IN the possibility that the first call
for volunteers might be for 100000
men. The war college recently pre-
the raising of a volunteer army.
"Under existing laws and under con-
temporaneous conditions Herewith"
says the war college, lit has hereto
fore been assumed that in the event of
a war with a first-class power the
United States would require not less
than half a million of men for the first
line, behind which could be prepared
the greater army of citizen soldiers
Hpon whom our main reliance for ma
Aonal defense is conditionally placed"
Subject to Presidents Call.
The organization of volunteer
armies can only be undertaken follow
Ing the presidential proclamation
stating the number needed, and on
this subject the war college says:
volunteer forces may be raised, or
ganized and maintained only during
the existence or imminence of war,
and only after congress shall have au-
thorized the president to raise such
forces. Congress could. however, by
legislative enactment, authorize the
| president TO raise such forces in time
6 peace.
when so authorized, the president
will issue his proclamation, stating the
number of men desired for each arm,
corps. or department, within such lin
It's as may be fixed by law. 1t is prob
lble that the proclamation will also re-
site the causes that make the call
necessary and will state that the en-
listed men shall be taken, as far as
practicable, from the several states,
territories and District of Columbia in
proportion to the respective popula-
lions thereof.
Following the call of the president
Tor volunteers, the secretary Of war
notifies the governors, etc., as in a call
.or militia. informing them of the quo
la for their respective states. the exist
ing militia organizations that will be
received into the volunteers, the new
organizations that it is desired to
raise, and the maximum and minimum
strength of organizations"
All terms of enlistments, 1t is point
ed out, "will be the same as that for
The regular army, exclusive of reserve
periods and no person can be en-
listed for the volunteer forces "who
Is not effective and able-bodied," and
who is not within the ages stipulated
Tor that service under the law as 1t
exists at the time of the presidents
call. Neither can any man be en-
listed who does not speak the English
language, while persons under eight
cen years of age can be accepted only
with the signed approval and consent
IF the parent or guardian Of that per-
son.
Recruiting, Rendezvous and Depots.
The war college continues:
with a view to recruiting and main.
tanning all organizations of the land
forces as near their prescribed
strength as practicable, the necessary
rendezvous and depots will be estab.
dshed by the secretary of war and
will be directly controlled by him. Here
the recruits will be enlisted and
trained. For the purposes of instruc
don and discipline, the troops at the
recruit depots may be organized into
companies and battalions, at the dis
erection of the secretary of war. The
aoncommissioned officers and private:
will be of such grades and numbers a:
the president may prescribe.
'It Is apparent that the recruits a
) the rendezvous and depots are intend
ed to form a reserve battalion for eacl
, regiment or equivalent thereof of reg
) nlars and volunteers only; for thu
act also provides that in order to main
tain the land militia organization a
their maximum strength the recruit
rendezvous and depots in any state o
: territory may, at the request of tn
governor thereof. enlist and train re
) cruits for land militia in the service
Of the United States from such stat
/ or territory. All the officers require,
for such recruit rendezvous and depot
will be volunteers of the proper arm o
the service.
Appointment of officers.
"Ail volunteer officers are a~ppointe,
~ the president, but the number an,
grade of such officers shall not exeee,
the number and grade of like officer
provided for a like force of the regu
lar army, and they will be subject t
such assignment to duty and trans
l fers as the president may direct.
I'm order hat the lives of thos
: patriotic citizens who may voluntee
for service may be safegusrded ant