The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-06-10


the Army, has evolved a plan for
the reorganization of the regular
army into forty regiments of infantry,
twenty regiments OF cavalry and six
regiments of field artillery, the whole
10 constitute mobile army of 1925
men, exclusive of the Coast Artillery
Corps, which will continue as at pres
ent organized into 10 separate COM
panies.
The plan of reorganization, as out
lined by General Carter himself, ap-
pears in The Journal of the Military
Service Institution of the United
States, published in the interests of
the army and National Guard, by the
officers of the army on Governors
Island
General Carter argues for the crea-
ton of regiments of nine instead of
twelve companies each. making posi-
BILE the organization of divisions of
three brigades of infantry, one regi-
ment of cavalry, one regiment of field
artillery, one battalion of engineers,
one company of the Signal Corps, four
field hospitals, one ammunition COL
umn and one pack train. each division
to consist CT $4,000 mel. Each regi-
ment would consist of 1000 men.
THE experience of all our wars"
General Carter says, Shows that
American infantry regiments of about
1000 men are easier to maneuvre and
TO supply than larger regiments. The
present war strength of regiment
of twelve companies exceeds 1900
men. The consensus of opinion of
experienced officers fixes about 100
men as the proper limit for a COM
pany containing but three officers on
its rolls. To accomplish this reduc-
ton in size of regiments and to in
crease their mobility and consequent
efficiency, it is proposed that each
regiment of infantry shall consist of
nine companies, organized into three
battalions of three companies each.
A strength of 100 men to each COM
pany. together with the non-commis-
stoned staff, band, machine gun
platoon of three guns and orderlies
will provide a regiment averaging
about 1000 men.
Eliminates Regimental Drill.
"The reduction from four to three
companies in each battalion makes
possible a great reduction and sim
plification of drill regulations. BY
applying the principles of regimental
drill to the battalion, the regimental
drill by command may be entirely
eliminated, and regimental COM
manders be relieved from committing
to memory number of rarely used
words of command Under this or
ganization it will be only necessary
to train and discipline the battalions
and then proceed with the division to
battle exercises over varied and IN
known country. All movements of
brigades and regim .nts would be by
direction or previously agreed upon
signals, and the battalions would thus
be brought to pr' ctice in peace under
front them in war
/: General Carter then refers to the
scattered condition of large part of
the National Guard, a condition that
makes even battalion drill rare &C.
currence. HIS paper also takes up
the proper TT aiming of that branch of
the Nationa: defense.
GAS thei." (the National Guard,
says Gene al Carter, proper instruc-
ton is OF vast consequence, it should
be provided in the drill regulations
that each infantry company shall be
/ divided into three platoons and the
essential elements of company drill
assimilated to those of the battalion.
BY thus harmonizing the company
and battalion drills confidence will be
instilled into the officers and men and
certain jerkiness, observed in regi-
ments composed of separate COM
panies of the National Guard, assem-
/ bled at rare intervals, should grad
ually disappear"
The reorganization of the cavalry
Is next touched upon, the reorganiza-
ton to follow in general the plans for
the reorganization of the infantry,
! that is, the creation of regiments of
nine troops instead of twelve, as at
. present, the strength of the new regi-
ments to be about 1000 men each.
The field artillery, if organized under
the. Carter plan, will consist OF six
regiments. making it possible to fur
( nish one battery of three field guns
to each of the forty regiments of in
fantry.
Makeup of a Division.
This, therefore, is the organization
of each division as contemplated by
General Carter:
Three brigades (nine regiments,
( tN enty-seven battalions) of infantry.
One regiment (nine troops) of cav
| airy.
One regiment (nine batteries,
twenty-seven guns) Of field artillery.
One battalion of engineers.
One company of the Signal Corps.
Four field hospitals.
One ammunition column.
One pack train.
J ''The proposed reorganization"
General Carter explains, has nothing
to do with the total strength of the
army, which the President may from
time to time in his discretion recon-
/ mend to Congrass as a MART of tho