Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-26
ARMY DIVISION IS
GIVEN TO ILLINOIS;
GUARD IN SERVICE
MAJOR GENERAL WILL BE AS
SIGNED AS LEADER OF STATE
TROOPS WHEN CHANGE IN
FORMATION is MADE.

Washington, d. c., July 2G-When
the Illinois division of the national
guard, called to the colors with four
other divisions as the second incre-
ment, is assembled in camp in Hous.
ton, Texas, steps will be taken at once
to reorganize its units along the new
organizatiOnal plans.
All troops from Maine. New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Della
ware, Maryland, District of Columbia,
Virginia, North and South Carolina,
Tennessee Illinois, Montana, Wyom-
ing Idaho, Washington and Oregon
came under President Wilson's proc
lamation, preparatory to mobilization
in southern training camps to be
equipped and QUILTED for duty in
France.
from far western and southwestern
states will be taken in August g.
The first increment. which includ-
ed the New York and Pennsylvania di-
visions, was called ont July Is and has
been held at state armories for pre-.
liminary equipment or started south to
the training camps
Instead Of the formation Of 100 men
to the company and POO men to the
regiment, operative when the IllineiS
troops were on the Mexican border,
or the $50 company and 1900 regiment
OF the present war strength tables,
each captain will have command Of a
company of 800 men, and each brigad-
Ter general will command a brigade
OF 5000
One important result of this adop.
ton of the French army organization
for the national guard probably will
be to give Illinois and Ohio recog-
nized national guard divisions.
Although Illinois is assigned to camp
as one division it has not yet been
recognized as a division by the war
department. and therefore, at present
is not entitled to major general.
When the strength of the division is
reduced from $4,000 to 10000 or H.
600 approximately the present
strength of the Illinois guard. it is
likely that when organized along the
French army lines there will be full
division, which will then entitle the
state to major general The same
is true of the Ohio guard
Gov. Lowden will not be privileged
to appoint major general for the
Illinois national guard. however, as
the New York and Pennsylvania gov
ernors have done, for if the Illinois
troops are recognized as division it
will not be until after the troops have
been drafted into the federal service
and sent to camp, when they will be
under federal jurisdiction and the
president will have the appointing
power.
Must Remain Until Orders.
Springfield, ILL.,, July 26-Illnois
troops modified at their home sta
tons today, and will remain there
until further notice.
This was in accordance with the
message received today by Adj, Con.
Dickson from the war department.
The message further stated the troops
probably would stay at the home sta
lions for about fifteen days before
being sent to their southern camp at
Houston, Texas, unless they gave pref
ence to being modified elsewhere.
No mention was made in the mes
sage of a concentration point for the
troops, and the adjutant general is
still in the dark as to the manner in
which the troops will be dispatched
south.
Notification to the various command
ers OF the Illinois units that they were
to mobilize today was not received un
til late last night.