Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-15
VIRGINIA MAY GET
EMbARKAT|0N CAMP
National Army Cantonment May
Become Training Ground for
Replacement Troops.
SELECTMEN GO ELSEWHERE
Probable Change by General
Staff Means Next Quotas Go
to Other Sections.
SELEcTMEN GO ELSEWHERE
1By Associated Prc.a1


WASHINGTON. February 14.-Uses
TO which several National Army can
tonmcnts. including Camp Dix, ". j.;
Camp Lee. Va; Camp Meade. Md. and
Camp Sheridan. Ala. are now put may
be completely changed when they are
vacated by troops now under training
as result of general staff studies of
the handling of divisions scheduled for
embarkation for Europe and of the
training OF replacement troops.
Under the plan. which has met with
general approval among officers fla
miliar with the problem. the whole sys-
tenn OF divisional depot brigades to
handle replacement troops would be
abandoned. Instead. fuly division
each. OF infantry and artflery BRO
visionally organized for feaining pur-
poses. would be assembled at two can
tonments. and all drafts Of men to fill
gaps in regiments at the front would
go forward from these two central
dcpots. Similar replacement forces for
all signal corps troops. except the
aviation service, would be organized at
another cantonment. 4 replacement
cantonment for the engineers is now
being constructed at Belvoir, Va, near
this city.
AS TO tho cmbarkation problem. il
has been decided that two additional
embarka,ion camps must be provided.
Camps Dix and Lee may be selected for
this purpose.
OUTBREAK OF DISEASE
MIGHT STOP EMBAnKATIoN
Under present embarkation arrange
ments. an outbreak of disease at the
concentration camps TO which troops
are sent before they go aboard ship
might result in quarantine and a COM
pictc tic-up OF the flow of men to
France. With two additional camps
available, there would be little likcli-
hood of such difficulty.
In addition. troops could be held
longer at the cmbarkation camps and
while there old uniforms and equip
ment could be taken UP and replaced
by the outfits to be used In France,
saving the issue departments in Europe
that work.
Creation OF replacement divisions for
line troops would overcome one of the
CHIEF obstacles OF training National
Army officers have encountered. The
transfer of National Army troops from
present depot brigadcs to regular divi-
sons and the withdrawal OF many men
fitted for assignment TO technical units
for which General PershinS has called
has greatly hampercd training. In
some cases the enlisted personnel OF
National Army units has changed com
pletcly two or three times within the
last few months.
Camp Mcclellan. Anniston, Ala
would be selected for the artillery re.
placement division. There is new
artillery range in that vicinity, and
continuous training with the guns
could be carried on there.
CANNOT CONCENTRATE
TRAINING OF AVIATORS
II has been suggested that the in
fantry replacement division might be
located at Camp Meade, although that
cantonmcnt might be found more suit.
able for the signal corps and some
other replacement units. The aviation
service must continue to be filled from,
the existing twenty-five or more avia-
tion fields and camps, supplements cd
by any new fields established. The
nature OF aviation training prevents
concentration in a single cantonment. i,
is thought.
The new QUESTIONABLE method of IN.
sclectiVe service obviates the difficult
ties heretofore experienced in filling
calls for technical units. Such men
arc now called out directly by the pro.
rost- t-marshal- general working through
the local boards. Where tho qualiIled
men fail to enlist voluntarily in suf-
ficient numbers. they can he drafted
without delay.
Drafts of casuals are now sent for.
ward regularly TO I'LL gaps in resi-
ments in France caused by casualties
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