AV 65 World War I Training Slide Collection

              AV 65
World War I Training Slide Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Manuscripts/ Audiovisual Collections
AV 65
World War I Training Slide Collection
Ca. 1914- 1918
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 65
Title:
World War I Training Slide Collection
Creator:
Unknown
Dates:
Ca. 1914- 1918
Media:
Glass Lantern Slides
Quantity:
0.12 Cubic Feet
Location:
Ohio Historical Society
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COLLECTION
In January 1917 the United States was still maintaining its neutrality in World War I. However, a series of events in the early months of 1917, including the resumption of submarine warfare against U. S. cargo ships, led the United States to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917. The declaration of war did not mean that large numbers of American troops were quickly deployed to Europe. The United States had a small regular army in 1917 and it was necessary to recruit and train soldiers. It was not until 1918 that U. S. troops began to play a role in combat.
Prior to the war some effort was made to expand the Army. The National Defense Act, passed in June 1916 allowed for more the army to recruit more, expand classes at West Point and required those entering the National Guard to take an oath to the state and federal governments ensuring that they would be available for Federal service. However, this still had not created a large enough army. The Selective Draft Act was passed and men between the ages of 21 and 30 began to register in June 1917. Despite pressure from the British and French allies to send troops as soon as possible, General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, and Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, felt strongly that American soldiers should be fully trained before going to Europe. Pershing also desired that American soldiers train in the United States with American officers.
Sixteen national training facilities were constructed by the United States government to train soldiers and new officers for service in World War I. The War Department wanted to train four million men for service in Europe. One of the training camps was Camp Sherman, located northwest of Chillicothe, Ohio. Named after famed Ohioan General William Tecumseh Sherman, it became known as, “ Ohio’s Soldier Factory.” At Camp Sherman and other training camps, drill and physical conditioning was an