Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-04
FIFTEEN BILLIONS
NEEDED FOR ARMY
Quarter Million Men Will Be
Called to Colors During
Present Month.
ABANDON INCREMENT PLAN
Every Cantonment to Be En-
larged to Speed Training
of Draftees.
ABANDON INCREMENT PLAN
TBy Associated Press ,

WASHINGTON. May 3-Simul;are.
ously with the announcement to-day
tha, $4,000 men from forty five states
had been called 10 join the coiors in
May, Secretary Baker indicated tho
scope of the governments, plans "oi
increasing its iightin. strength by stat
ing that Congress had beer, ASKED TO
appropriate approximately ST.. 900 001-
600 for tn. army for the next ii. ;.al
year. That amount is exclusive ~
funds provided i'm tho tortitication bin
which not only covers coast dcfcnscs
but, as rule. provides the bulll ot
heav" field ordnance.
The call for 250.OO men during MAY
goes TO all States except California.
Oregon and Nevada which, with the
District Of Columbia, already have SUI
piled so large part Of their quota
that it was decided not TO include them
THIS time. The movcmen, in most
states will begin May -. and VIII he
completed in five DAYS. by this ord""
the War Department abandons its pan
Of assembling men in even monthly
increncnts Of approximately 100000
Under the original program ii was in
tended to call out not TO exceed $4,000
men during 1918. The call for 10000
in April and 233ooo this month will
bring out in two months half Of the
number originally contemplated for tho
year. Officials made II clear that IL
is now the purpose to mobilize all the
men for whom equipment and training
facilities can be provided
NEW CANTOSMESTS Will.
BE BUILT UNDER NEW pi,tN
In preparation for this tremendous
Increase in the army, the House Nil
itary Committee was told to-day tha,
every existing cantonmcnt in the coun-
try viii be enlarged and every National
Guard camp utilized TO its full capacity
Il is regarded as probable that sSmc
new cantonments must be built, bur
in the Interests OF speed and economy
Of effort and material. pressure viii
be placed upon expanding existing ia :
cilities. Ground has already been OBJ
tained IN the vicinity of several can
tonments for the expansion !. Id details
OF the new construction. src Bling
worked out by the general stan.
In connection with the exclusion ot
three States and the District of Colum-
hia from the May call. ofici.is cv-
planned that an effort is being made
to ha alance accounts among the various
states, preparatory "a the applicati ion
of the new quota basis when Congress
has approve that measure.
The men called out this month will
be mobili.ed generally at the canton
nonts to which the men from the same
States have previously been scui. In
many cases they will fad the divisions
originally created u, those camps gone
Some Of the camps will have been con
v"rted inIo replacement divisions and
Tile neH men will be is;rihut"d in
accordance with their qualifications.
II Is regarded as likely THAT tho Aprii
and May drafts will be used largely to
fill UP divisions at home while the
>easorcd personnc, from those diris-
ions is sent overseas to FL the gaps.
Since the number of divisions on ~"
other side is rapidly and steadily In
creasing. the flow of replacement troops
must increase proportionntely.
A new draft of the annual army ar-
nropriation bill. providing for the needs
of 100000 men under the $4,000. oeo.-
GOO program, will be laid before the
House Military Committee when it re-
assemblies Monday. Secretary Baker.
Major-GeneraI March and other officers
appeared t,-dav at the committees on
ccutive session. discussing the csti-
mates to carry out the Immediately
foroseen war work.
While some ~ the House administra =
ton leaders voiced support OF the War
Departments program. the scntim.u,
expressed was not unanimous regard
ing the request FOR unlimited power
TO determine the size OF the army.
ORDNANCE PLANS WILL.