Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-05-08
IN THE j. s. ARMY
INFANTRY DIVISION
IN ADDITION TO THE 2s,2S5 MEN
THERE ARE 1884 HORSES AND
4s75 MULES.
COST 100000 TO EQUIP
Requires 817 Commissioned Officers,
With go More for the Wagon
Trains, as Organized for War
With Germany.

not hitherto published, the National
Geographic society has issued from
its headquarters in Washington the
following bulletin on the units and
equipment of an infantry division of
the United States army as reorgan-
lied in the light of the lessons learn
ed during the 81 months of warfare in
Europe.
"As reorganized for the war with
Germony an infantry division of the
per cent more men than a division of
the German army as now constituted.
The enemy's divisions are made
up of 1900 men and 1000 horses;
the new United States division at
maximum strength will be composed
of 2S,235 men, 1884 horses and 1875
mules.
THE average layman has little con-
ception of the various units which go
to make up an infantry division or
the enormous cost of its equipment.
According to estimates made two
years ago the cost Of fully equipping
a division amounts to $7,636,550, but
since that time the cost of materials
has advanced so greatly that a con-
servative estimate requires the addi-
ton of 20 per cent to this amount,
making the total in excess of $1,000
900. And this takes into consideration
the immense saving effected by the
oil oe In, Il
ing for the purchase by the govern
ment of munitions and equipment at
a profit to the manufacturers not to
exceed 10 per cent, which is far less
than the profits ordinarily realized
on materials sold in the world mar
kets.
Units of Army Division.
The new United States army divi-
sions will be composed of the follow
ing units:
Three infantry brigades, 1859 Of
ficers and men.
One field artillery brigade, 4O3O Of
ficers and men.
One regiment of cavalry, 1870 Of
ficers and men and 1541 horses.
One regiment of engineers, 1898 of
ficers and men.
One field signal battalion, 259 Off
GERS and men.
One aero squadron, 17S officers and
men and IL airplanes.
Total, 1851 officers and men.
Total with wagon trains, 2S,235 Of
ficers and men.
Total with motor trains, 1884 Of
ficers and men.
The number of commissioned of
ficers in a division is SIT, with 80 ad
ditional officers for the wagon trains
80 if the division is organized with
motor trains.
The medical department of a di
vision is composed of 125 officers
1882 enlisted men and 4S ambulances
If the division is equipped with
wagon trains 1909 wagons are re
quired, supplemented by 81 motor
trucks; if equipped with motor trains
493 wagons supplement the 627 mo
tor trucks.
The total number of riding horse.
required for division and it's Wagon
trains is 4616, together with 221;
draft horses and 1875 riding, pack anC
draft mules.
Need 10000 Rifles, $500 Pistols.
More than 10000 rifles are re
quired to arm a division and its train
together with 5000 pistols. The artil
lery consists of so three-inch fiel,
guns, firing either high explosive
shells or shrapnel, each projectil
weighing Is pounds, and 95 3.S-incl
howitzers, the shells for which weigl
80 pounds.
The number of machine guns wit
which a division is to be equipped
is still an open question, but the mum
Der which will appear in army chart
soon to be printed is 70 for the div
sion and 20 additional guns for tn
wagon trains. The number in al
probability will be greatly increased
perhaps to as high as 80 guns TO
every 1000 rifles, making a total Q
| 600 for the division.
II Miles Long in Marching Order.
1.-THE length of a division in marcel
ing order is more than IA miles, an
the wagon trains require an addition
al six miles. If equipped with motto
trains instead of wagon trains tn
length from the head of the column
to the last of the rear guard is l
miles.
within the next few weeks detail
ed tables, prepared by the army wa
college in Washington, will be issue
from the government printing Office
showing the strength and equipmer
of each unit of the various branche