Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-06-20

Through the committee organization
have been built up in all army camps
by which enlisted men and commissions
Officers are classified according to oC
, cupation qualifications. In some camps
where as many as $500 men are receives
daily, forces of 200 interviewers are EN-
ployed to ascertain full information re
garding each man s occupation, educa
ton, experience, and special qualifica
tions.
Breaking the News.
Relatives of soldiers named in casualty
lists forwarded from France ordinarily
are notified within twenty-four hours
after receipt of the lists, according to a
statement authorized by the war de-
pertinent. A "statistical division, -
with staff of officers and corps of
stenographers, gives all its time to the
maintenance of files of soldiers names
and addresses. This division notifies
relatives.
A copy of the roster of each ccntin-
gent sailing to join the cApeditionary
forces is filed in card index fashion,
each card bearing the name of one sol
der, his organization, and the name and
address of parent or other relative or
friend designated by him to be notified
in emergency. When casualty list is
received from General Pershing each
name cabled from the American expedi
tionary force is listed with the emer
geney address on file in the card index.
AS rapidly as the new list with emer
gency addresses is built up the tele-
graph clerks get duplicates. These
clerks already are supplied with blank
kilograms which require only the rela-
tive's address, name of sender, nature
If casualty and the date, and filling in
he blank spaces they get the kilograms
IF as quickly as possible. In addition
o maintaining the telegraph blanks for
he sake of speed the statistical divi
ion is supplied with sets of form let
ers to be filled in and mailed when
urther details are available.
While relatives are generally in re- =
eipt of information within twenty. I
ours after the cables are received, de
avs are sometimes due to clerical err
ors caused by the fact that names must
ass through so many hands in France
nd in America, incorrect emergency
ddresses turned in by soldiers, removal
families to addresses other than those
sted, and the occasional necessity for
lbling back to General Pershing TO
srify a name or to obtain ar address.
Aside from these four causes of delay
e only reason for the failure of rela-
yes to receive word at once is military
nsideration. General Pershing may
his discretion, withhold a casualty
t until he is positive it will have 10 -
litary value to the enemy. i
To Motorize Artillery.
of field artillery will be
'ried to a greater extent in the Ameri-
l army than in any other army en-
yed in the war. Not only will far
ater amount of motor. equipment be
vided in proportion to the strength
the army, but it will be used for
* where armies now in the field de
a solely upon horse power and man
5er.
he ordnance department has succeed
in developing such types of trac-
that, exclusive of the heaviest field
llery mounted on railroad carriages,
American artillery will be motorized
d the exception of some of the 3
gun .atteries. The problem of
orization of field-artillery is a diff
1t one, which explains why it has
been carried to greater extent
has been the case with the armies
have been fighting in Europe for
asst three years.
ie possible output of tractors for the
sport of field artillery in the Unit
ates is practically unlimited, where
he supply of horses is at present
ed and is becoming more so each
h.
Train Negro Soldiers.
arly $4,000 negro soldiers are now
e national army. OF these, 1000
ne officers holding commissions of
in and first and second heutenants.
are ahout go eolored off;ears IN