The Detroit times., 1914-05-01
MILITARY BOARD
TALKS OF PLANS
REORGANIZATION
Meets in Detroit to Discuss Ar.
rangements for Service if
Called to Mexico
OHIO AND MICHIGAN
IN ONE DIVISION
Attempt Will BE Made to Name
Officers Acceptable to Troops
of Both States

The members OF the state military
board met informally in the district
attorneys ONCE in the postoffice build
ing Friday morning, and discussed
plans for the mobilization Of the Mich.
igan troops in the event of call for
duty in Mexico. The discussion was
continued in the afternoon In regu.
lar meeting of the board
The members who attended the
meeting are Gen. G. p. Kirk Ypsi.
lanti. chief OF STAFF and brigade com
mander; Col. Lewis c. Covell. Grand
Rapids, commander OF the Second in
fantry; Maj. Walter G. Rogers, Lam
sing quartermaster-genera Mai. Roy
&c. Vandercook. Lansing, adjutant-gen-
eral Mai. Nj. p. Phillips, Owosso, in
spector OF small arms; Maj. Daniel
w. Smith, Detroit, brigade adjutant;
Capt w, IL. Martin, Saginaw, of Co.
! r, Third infantry.
Judging from the tone of the orders
and instructions that the Michigan
militia men are receiving from the
war department, Washington officials
! fear that the United States will ulti.
mately be compelled TO send large
| force OF soldiers TO the Mexican Dor
der The Michigan militia Is ready
TO answer a call for war at any time,
and every day notes the increasing
efficiency -ef the force - No.
| !, In the event OF the Michigan troops
taking the field, an infantry brigade,
consisting of three regiments under
Gen. Kirk will be part of a division
OF nihe regiments OF Ohio and Michi-
gan troops The division commander
will be a regular army officer.
The Michigan and Ohio militia Of
fcers would like to see Col Edwin
F. Glenn, formerly of the Twenty
third infantry. and now of the gen
eral staff in Washington, and also OF
the war college, lead the division. His
army officer. with the rank of col
onel Twenty other staff positions
will be divided between the two
states pro rata.
1t is the intention of the military
boards to select competent officers,
outside OF politics. II 1t is found
impossible 70 agree on the necessary
officers, the war department will
name them
On Gen. Kinks staff are Maj. Smith,
Maj. Phillips. Mai James +. Mead,
brigade surgeon Maj. John G. Evans,
brigade commissary; Maj Henry NJ.
Lamb, brigade quartermaster; Maj.
Albert c. Wilson. brigade inspector,
and two aides with the ranks of first
! lieutenant. All the majors, with the
exception OF Mai Wilson. of Ann Ar
Dor, are Detroit residents.
Owing TO ruling of the war depart
ment, none of the STAFF. excepting
Maj. Phillips and Mai. Smith and two
aides, will be included In the war
call The other members of the staff,
however, will not be left at home,
and places will be found for them.
Several of the staff members have
had previous war experience.
The Michigan military organizations
will be distributed in the following
manner: The company OF engineers
in Calumet will become part of an
engineering battalion; the two troops
of Michigan cavalry will be expanded
t to foar saHadFeHs, making with the
two Ohio squadrons, complete regi-
ment: the Ypsilanti signal corps will
become part OF a three-company bat
talon OF signal corps; two batteries OF
artillery, with the addition Of three
to be raised, will form one-half Of
regiment OF artillery from Ohio and
Michigan. Three organizations OF san
itary troops, two ambulances and one
field hospital, will be taken into ser
vice with the Michigan-Ohio division,
recruited TO their full strength.
II is a part of the mobilization plan
under discussion TO quarter the in
fantry in the Fort Wayne army post
in Detroit, the mounted divisions to
be quartered in other locations about
the city. If mobilization is delayed
until after June l. the troops will be
called to Grayling, Mich, where prep
arations are now under way for the
annual encampment. The Detroit rife
range will be used for the instruction
of recruits in the handling and shoot
ing OF an army rifle. There are at
present 10000 rounds OF ball am
munition on the range. IL will take
about six weeks, the military experts
figure, to prepare the recruits for ser.
vice. The rifle range opened this
morning. ready for use.
Capt. Mitchell and Lieut. Eustace,
both OF Cincinnati. met with the mem
bers Of the board 10 discuss the selec.
ton OF a commander for the cavalry
OF the two states. Capt Heinrich A.
Pockert, commander OF Troop ID,
Michigan squadron will become ma
ior under the proposed arrangement.