Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-10-31
HOW A GREAT ARMY
IN U. S. IS BUILT
In Every Army OF the World the Foot
Soldiers or Infantry Form Main
Fighting Force.
WARS NO LONGER DECIDED
ON THE FIRING LINE
Private Soldier, At Bottom of Army
Stairs Has Nine Steps to Climb
Before Getting to Top
a General.

main fighting force. All other bran
ches of the service are organized in
ratio to the strength of the Infantry
Thus the number of cavalrymen en-
listed depends upon the numerical
strength of the infantry organiza-
ton. For this reason let us consid-
er the numerical units by which in
fantry strength is estimated.
First there is the squad made up
of eight men under the command Of
corporal. A platoon made up of
five squads and comprising from for
ty to fifty men is under the command
of a sergeant or lieutenant. A COM
pany comprising two, three or four
platoons is under the control of
captain A company's roll contains
from so to 200 men. Four companies
make up a battalion under the COM
mand of a major, while three bat
talions form a regiment led by a
colonel Three regiments form a
brigade under the command of a
brigadier general, and three brigades
make a division. Three divisions, If
they represent various branches of
the service, are grouped into corps
| or field army. The division is COM
manded by major general, as is al
so the field army.
1.-The army" in its entirety con-
sists of as many field armies as a
country is able to muster, plus the
entire military organization and its
accessories.
There are few slight differences
between the cavalry and infantry or
carnations, for the infantry COM
pany in cavalry tdrms becomes a
troop and the battalion becomes a
squadron.
In the artillery branch of the serv-
ice there are several subdivisions. At
the present time we hear much about
the coast artillery, which is made up
of fixed or stationary cannon, sci
in batteries made up of two or more
guns within proper Notifications at
various strategic points where they
may effectively oppose naval attacks.
Artillery for Notifications is of a
character similar to coast artillery.
Siege guns are of as heavy caliber or
power as the guns used IN fortifica-
lions, but are mounted so that they
may be moved by motor power or
train from one point to another.
Field, horse and mountain artillery
are exactly what their names imply
the mobile adaptable guns Of an
army.
Such are the three main arms"
of the army. The smallest unit in
which any two of these arms are
joined is the cavalry brigade, which
sometimes Contains light artillery.
Thus we may call the brigade the
largest "unmixed" unit, while the d.
vision is the smallest mixed" unit
that is, the smallest unit made up
of infantry, cavalry and artillery.
The average strength OF field
army or corps throughout the world
is between 10000 and 10000 men.
The field army is supposed to con-
tain representation from every
branch of the army organization and
to be able to act as complete and
Independent unit.
Virtually every activity of civil life
is represented in the army organiza-
ton, either on its technical or admin
istrative side. The more one delves
into army organization the keener
becomes the appreciation Of the nee
essity of properly classifying every
civilian of military age. that In
emergency he may be called forth to
serve his country in that capacity In
which he is best fitted to give the
highest results. Every tradesman,
mechanic, laborer, professional man,
artist or poet can be fitted into the
vast organization wheel In such
way that his vocation or avocation
will be turned to his country's adj
vantage.
Wars are no longer entirely de-
cided on the firing line. They are.
rather, struggles between th9 lre-
sources of nations, and that country
possessing the greatest industrial
stamina is almost certain to win,
provided it has reasonable repre-
sentation of arms in the field.
The private soldier, standing at
the bottom of the army stairs, has
nine steps to climb before he arrives
at the top-a general. His first pro-
motion is to corporal and the next
to sergeant. He is elevated to these
next grades by his regimental COM
mander. The next step to a commits
sion bearing the presidents name
was formerly the most difficult to