THE AMERICAN ARMY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1763, 11 December 1917, Page 4

THE AMERICAN ARMY.

A WONDERFUL EXPANSION. When the United States joined in the war against Germany live months ago, the nation’s army consisted of a force of 110,000 men, termed “Regulars.” The phenomenal growth of the American military establishment since that time is vividly presented in the following details published by the New York Tribune: — April 6th: War begins. Volunteers are called for to recruit the Regular Arm and the National Guard to full strength . During five months the Regular Army alone has been increased by 180,000 men by recruiting. April 28th: Senate and House pass the Selective Draft Bill, May sth; Phm« for military registration are officially-' announced. May 11th; Five thousand volunteers start for the Plattsburg officers’ training camp. May 18th; The President order’s General Pershing to take a force of Regulars to France at the earliest possible moment. June sth; Almost ten million men registered for military service. June 15th: Troops begin sailing for France. July 20th; About 625,000 men drawn by lot, as the first instalment of men summoned to service in the National Army. August sth; The National Guard’, consisting of 419,834 men and 13,093 officers, is mustered into Federal Service. August 14th; Commissions are awarded to 3,500 student officers at Plattsburg. August 31st: Five per cent, of the first draft of 625,000 men is called to the colours. When all of the 625,000 men shall have been called—and that will be as fast as the cantonments can receive them for training—the United States will have 1,350,000 men under arms, exclusive of the navy. Te repeiyg gnd train this National Army, 32 great captonmepts have been built, appearing as if by fflagip on tracts of waste and unoccupied land. There are besides, 22 camps where officers are in the making, and four where medical officers are training.