Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-17
Recently Announced Diu-
isional Plan to Be Car
ried Down Into Regi-
ments and Companies.
ERY ARsncIated Pressl


the American army to conform with
European standards. as recommended
by Major-GeneYal Pershins, is provided
for in army orders revealing that the
recently announced divisional reorgani-
zation plan Is to be carried down into
the regiments and companies.
The administrative unit Of the infan-
try arm hereafter will be company
with $50 enlisted men and six COM
missioned officers. in place OF some
thing over 100 men and three officers.
The company will be divided into four
platoons. each in command of lieu
tenant. There will be two captains as
first and second in command. one first
lieutenant and three second lieuten-
ants. Reports of the review of the
American troops in France yesterday
show that this plan already has been
carried in General Pershing's forces.
The object of assigning two captains
to each company. II is understood. is
TO provide against riisorgan nization OF
the unit through the loss Of It's COM
mander. The second captain, under
the European system, does not go into
battle limo with the company IL his
senior is present He is held rs a re-
serve to reorsanize the company IL
necessary.
TOTAL OF 5000 MEN
IN EACH REGIMENT
Under the new plan. each regiment
will have three battalions Of four COM
panies. making a total of 5000 men,
Supplemented by the reGimental head
quarters. supply and machine-Eun or
ganizations the strength OF the new
regiments will be brought up to ap-
proximately $500 men, as against little
more than 1000 in existing war
strength regiments.
The unit organization of the field
artillery and other arms Of the SER
vice has not been changed. AS a re-
suit OF reducing the number of regi-'
ments in a division. the division, in
stead of $4,000 men, will total here
after about $4,000 mea-15.000 Of them
infantry.
The advantages OF the system. in ad-
dition to the better adaptation of the
divisional unit 10 trench warfare. lies
chiefly in the reduction in overhead
expenses. One colonel and his regi-
mental staff. including his three bat
talon commanders, will now handle
$500 men, instead Of little more than
1000.
To-day's orders show that provision
has been made for organization of
thirty-two new infantry divisions in
addition to the regular divisions. out
OF troops already called to the colors.
including the first increment of 6S7. 900
drafted men. system Of numerical
designations has been worked out un-
der which any division numbered be-
low 26 will be regulars: between 90
and rs. National Guard. and rs and
above. national army. Regular infan-
try brigades will be numbered from I
to so. inclusive; National Guard. from
81 to $50. and national army from 151
up. Regular regiments will be num-
bered from / to 100. National Guard
from 1o1 to 800. and national army
from 301 up.
ASSIGNMENT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH NUMERICAL ORDER
Assignment OF brigade. regimental or
other numerical designation will be in
accordance with the numerical order
OF divisions. with the result that any
person familiar with the system will
know that the Three Hundred and
Thirty-fifth Infantry. for instance. is
attached to the One Hundred and Six
ty-seventh Brigade OF tho Eighty
fourth Infantry Division. and that it
is composed Of national army troops
while the Three Hundredth Infantry
Regiment. by the same process. would
be in the One Hundred and Fiftieth
Brigade and the Seventy-fif fifth Division.
composed of National Guard troops.
The department approved to-day col
lar insignia to designate the three ele-
ments OF the army. Regulars will
wear the standard U. S. Monogram.
National Euardsmen will wear a SINH
lar monogram, with the initials n. G.
superimposed. and the national army
men Will have the initials N. A, super
imposed on the u S.