Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-09-13
PERSH|NC FAVORS
FRENCH SYSTEM Y |
Every Army Unit May Be Re-
organized al Once.
some INCREASED, SOME CUT

Would Be Composed of $50 Men With
a Captain and Four Lieutenants-Ac-
zion Shows That Our Forces Are Ex-
rected to Cooperate With French.
The first important result of General
pershin2's conferences at the Paris
war office and observations on the west
ern front will be Il reorganization of
the United States army along the lines
Of the French units.
The reorganization will affect every
company, regiment and division of the
present regular establishment and the
militia units that are about to 20 to
camp. The national army, called I'M
der the draft, will be organized alto
gether along French lines.
Orders for the reorganization are now
being prepared by the general staff and
will be t%elegraphed to the various de-
partmental commanders about the date
of the field mobilization Of the militia.
P%ershlng's Recommendations.
AS a result of the experience Of the
civil war, supplied with lessons taken
from European wars Of fifty years, the
American army was organized on the
basis Of from 100 to $50 men to a COM
pany, 1000 to 1900 to a regiment and
approximately 2S,50O to a division.
The war college has insisted that this
represented the best possible system of
organization for a number of reasons
of a technical nature.
General Pershing has been convinced
by the French general staff that such
organizations were proper under the
old methods of warfare, but that the
United States should do away COM
pletely with this system if the Ameri-
can troops are to be Of the utmost pos
sible service to the allies cause.
In place Of these units General PERISH
ing has recommended by cable that the
companies be increased to $50 men, reg
iments to 5000 and divisions be cut
approximately to 1900.
AS it would be impossible to expect
France to r%eorganize al army of mil
lions, General Pershing reported that
this country should Immediately build
&lS GlOiS liz lilies d1Icduy lUl-
lowed by the greater force.
When General Pershing's report was
received officers Of the wal college d.
vision Of the general staff objected
s~trenuo,lsly to an adoption Of tho
French system. Some of the n
officers complained bitterly that the
United States should not throw over
bodily q system that was adopted be-
cause it was believed to be perfect.
Will Shake Up Minor Officers.
h principal reason ascribed for the
change is that American troops are ex-
pected to ocdipy trenches alternately
with French troops. Unless the units
are in the same size confusion would
result from the interchange. In other
words, If a French division Of 1900
men was withdrawn so hat an Ameri-
can could take the trench it would be
manifestly impossible to make the
change. Conversely, the same difficult
ties would arise from attempting to use
American companies and regiments in
trenches occupied by French ~organiza-
lions.
AS a result of the change there will
be a general shakeup Of officers in
minor commands. In the American or
ganization a company is commanded
by a captain, assisted by a first and
second lieutenant. Under the new sys-
tenn the captain will remain in com
lnand, but will probably be mounted,
and he will have four lieutenants under
him.
No change is anticipated in the bat
TALON or regimental commands. A
major will command the former and q
colonel the latter, as under the present
system. A colonel under the new sys-
tenn will have almost as many troops
as a brigadier general now has. A di-
vision at present is commanded by q
major general.
Entire Service Affected.
1t is assumed that the new. divisions
Of smaller size will have a commands
ing officer of the same grade.
While the proposed change appears
to be merely a matter Of REIMBURSEMENT
in numbers, a. a matter of fact it af.
fects every branch of the service, and
they must all be reapportioned to meet
the reorganization. AS an example,
The quartermaster corps, the medical
corps and every other staff organiza.
ton, with transports, materials and
supplies, is built on the present regi
mental and divisional lines. All must
be changed to meet the requirements
Of the new system.
One Of the significant aspects of this
reorganization, is that the calculations
all are based upon the French system
rather than the British, indicating Gen
eral Pershing anticipates the closes
kind of cooperation with the armies O
General Petain rather than of Haig.
Fell Four Stories: Livea.