The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-22
BUILDING AN ARMY
Infantry the Base Upon Which the
Service Is Reared.
THE MAIN FIGHTING FORCE.
Upon the Numerical Strength Of the
Foot Soldiers Depends the Size Of the
Other Branohes-Vital Importance Of
Industrial Resources.

Foot Soldiers Depends the Size Of the
Other Branohes-vital Importance oi
Industrial Resources.
In every army of the world the foot
soldiers, or infantry, form the main
fighting force. All other branches OF
the service are organized in ratio to
the strength Of the infantry. Thus
the number of cavalrymen enlisted de-
pends upon the numerical strength of
the infantry organization. For this
reason let us consider the numerical
units by which infantry strength is
estimated
First there is the squad made up Of
eight men under the command of a
corporal. A platoon made up Of five
squads and comprising from forty to
fifty men is under the command Of a
sergeant or lieutenant A company
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 command Of a ma
jor, while three battalions form regi-
ment led by colonel Three regi-
ments form a brigade under the COM
mand of brigadier general, and
three brigades make division. Three
divisions, if they represent various
branches of the service. are grouped
into a corps or field army. The divi-
sion is commanded by major general.
as is also the field army.
"The army" in Its entirety consists
of as many field armies as country
IL able to muster plus the entire mill
tary organization and its accessories.
There are few slight differences be-
tween the cavalry and infantry organ
izations, for the infantry company In
cavalry terms becomes troop and the
battalion becomes squadron.
In the artillery branch of the service
there are several subdivisions. At the
present time we hear much about the
coast artillery, which is made up of
teries made up of two or more guns
within proper Notifications at various
strategic points where they may eff
fectively oppose naval attacks Artil-
lery for fortifications is of n character
similar to coast artillery. Siege guns
are of as heavy caliber or power as
the guns used in Notifications. 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 adapta-
bic 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 division is the smallest
mixed" unit-that Is, the smallest
unit made up of infantry, cavalry and
artillery.
The average strength of a field army
or corps throughout the world is be-
tween 10000 and 10000 men. The
field army is supposed to contain rep.
resentatiOn from every branch of the
army organization and to be able to
net as complete and Independent unit.
Virtually every activity Of civil life
is represented in the army organlza-
tion, either on It's technical or admin
istrative side. The more one delves
Into army organization the keener be-
comes the appreciation of the neces-
sity of properly classifying every civil
a N pf mil itnr thak tn
he may be called forth to serve his
country in that capacity In which he
IL best fitted to give the highest re-
suits. Every tradesman, mechanic, la.
borer. professional man, artist or poet
can be fitted into the vast organiza-
tion wheel in such way that his vo-
cation or avocation will be turned to
his country's advantage.
Wars are no longer entirely decided
on the firing line. They are, rather,
struggles between the resources of ma
tions, and that country possessing the
greatest industrial stamina Is almost
certain to win, provided 1t has rea.
sonable representation OF arms In the
field
Ihe private soldier, standing Mt the
bottom of the army stairs. has nine
steps to climb before he arrives at the
top-a general His first promotion is
to corporal and the next to sergeant.
He Is elevated to these grades by his
regimental commander. The next step
to commission bearing the presi-
dents name was formerly the most
difficult to negotiate, but It is now fair
ly easy to take for men who honestly
possess the qualities necessary to make
the right kind OF officers. After he be.
comes a second lieutenant time and
opportunity will give the soldier his
FIRST heutenancy and later captain.
cy Next he becomes major. Di.
rectly above the major stands the lieu
tenant colonel. who Is one grade below.
colonel, At the top, for final reward,
Is generals Star.
Easy as the ascent seems to the lay.
man, a superficial examination OF the
facts win prove II a difficult climb, but
by no means u forlorn hope.-Richard