All Men Are Urged to Respond.
Tonight at 7:30 o’clock the first meeting of the local civilian military company will be held at the Elks temple corner and steps will be taken to organize.
The Central Department headquarters advises that the original plan of training camps is abandoned, that they are to be conducted as schools for officers and that only men of age, education and physical condition to qualify for officers who are willing to accept commissions or men of ability or training of especially value to the government along cooperative lines will be accepted.
The president has proposed to congress that an army of 500,000 men be raised forthwith. With the navy, this army will constitute the fighting forces of the nation. These fighting forces can be successful only in proportion to the measure of assistance rendered them by men of special training and experience.
The civilian auxiliary is designed to offer to every citizen of Bemidji who is not now able or prepared to join the fighting forces, an opportunity to co-operate with these forces by preparing himself to render to the government of the United States that service which by training and experience he is best fitted to render.
The following men have expressed their willingness to become members of the Civilian Auxiliary of Bemidji and have promised to attend the drills regularly as far as possible. The question of equipment is being considered and there is a possibility that both uniforms and rifles can be secured.
The roster: J. M. Herbert, Carl Jacobson, N. W. Brown, Homer Cardle, R. L. Given, R. J. Moore, Roy Leibsle, James Klungness, George Klungness, Bob Peir, Phil Geier, C. G. King, A. G. Wedge, A. P. Ritchie, Greg Malone, Cliff Condon, John Messelt, Byron Russell, “Fuzz” Johnson, Bill Eberlein, Charles Gould, Fred Shavitch, N. E. Given, Barney Erickson, John Kingem, Bert Barker, Oscar Erwig, Fred Cutter, Jack O’Connor, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Arnold, A. Guisness.
Any other men who wish to join this organization will please report at the Antlers cigar store tonight at 7:30 o’ clock or send their names to George Geib or D. J. Moore. (Bemidji Pioneer, April 11, 1917)