The Washington herald., 1916-05-03
BY L. b. JOHNS.

The preparedness forces in Congress
are insisting that the conference report
on the army bill should provide for nine
divisions Seven Of these divisions are to
be infantry and two of them cavalry
They are not all agreed on what should
be the strength o the organizs tiOns
which compose these nine divisions. but
they are united on the composition of the
seven divisions.
The strength Of the companies, regi-
ments and brigades OF q division, or as
far as that is concerned, the entire army,
depends upon the appropriation made by
Congress. Even II the reorganization bill
now pending in conference should au-
thorize the maintenance OF the army al
war strength the troops could not be Sc
cured unless Congress each year made
the necessary appropriations to keep II
at that strength. Even last years ap-
pTopriations were not sufficient to KEEP
the army fully up to the strength that
was authorized. When Congress came tc
authorize an increase OF 10000 it was dis
covered that the army was below its su-
thorized strength because Congress had
not appropriated sufficient funds to pay
the troops that were authorized by law.
The number of organizations are fixed
by law and the number of troops for
these organizations depend entirely upon
the annual appropriation. Chairman
Cha mberlain and the other advocates OF
an adequate army are insisting upon nine
divisions the organization recommended
by the Army War College.
If the army now had the organizations
and the strength that is recommended by
the War College there would be no short
age of cavalry or any other troops to
deal with the Mexican situation. Even
In the event of intervention the regular
army could occupy Mexico until voluis
teer force could be raised and trained
There would also be plenty of aeroplanes
and a sufficient force of trained aviators
to man them.
In its report, the War College showcc
that 1t appreciated the fact that there
would be more need for cavalry on the
Mexican border than in any other part Of
the country. The report calls for the
stationing of one brigade of Cavalary CT
the Mexican border west of El Pa@o and
one brigade of cavalry east OF FL Paso
This force would be sufficient to patro
the border even under existing c"ndi
tions and the balance of the mobile army
would be left free to occupy the strategi
cal points along the border.
In its report the War College sets forth
how the troops which will be provided ful
Ill lHt VII, IL IL is pdSSSu III NlAS Ava III L a
It was reported from the Senate commit
tee, are to be stationed. Roughly speak
ing after the Panama Canal, the Philip
pines, the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska
are garrisoned, there will be four divis
ions of infantry in 1.-THE United states and
all of the two divisions of cavalry Will
the exception of five regiments. On
division of infantry is to be stationed jiI
Hawaii, one in the Philippines and one il
1.-THE Canal Zone.
| In the United States one division OF in
| fantry and one brigade of cavalry are /,
be stationed in 1.-THE Puget Souul ares
California is to have a division of nfantrl
and a cavalary brigade. There are 10 b.
stationed in the North Atlantic States,
division of infantry and a brigade of cav
airy. and in the Middle West one division
of infantry and 4 brigade of cavalry. II
all of the infantry divisions with the eX-
ception of the Puget Sound defense are
and the Middle West, there will be at
tached a regiment of cavalry. This give
| the continental force twenty regiments u
cavalry and thirty-six regiments of nfar
| try. Attached to the Continental arm.
1 will be fifteen regiments of field artillery
J ten battalions of engineers, seven baJtal
ions of signal corps troops and five aert
| squadrons.