New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
Length of Column on March
10 Miles from Head
to Rear Guard
Equipment 100000
War Department Profits by
Europe's Lessons in Re-
organization

Washington, April o.. Compiled
from data not hitherto published. the
National Geographic Society has issued
from its headquarters in Washington
the following bulletin on the units ano
equipment Of an infantry division OF
the United States army as reorganized
in the light Of the lessons learned dur
ing the thirty-one months Of warfare
in Europe: .n
Germany. an infantry division OF the
United States army will number %
per cent more men than DIVISION OF
the German army as now constituted.
The enemy's divisions arc made up OF
1900 men and 1000 horses; the new
United States division at maximum
strength will be composed OF 2e,@5o
men, 6,s34 horses and 4,9l5 mules.
"The average layman has little con-
ception Of the various units which 90
10 make Up an infantry division, or the
enormous cost OF its equipment. Ac-
eording 10 estimates made two years
ago, the cost OF fully equipplng a dlvl-
sion amounts TO S7,636 $50, but since
that time the cost Of materials has ad-
vsnced so greatly that conservative
estimate requires the addition OF 20
per cent TO this amount, making the
total in excess Of 100000. And this
takes into consideration the immense
saving effected by the Council OF Ma
tional Defence in providing for the pur-
chase by the government OF munitions
and equipment at a profit TO the manu-
facturers not 20 exceed 10 per cent,
which is far less than the profits ordl-
~.~sl~~ wao1fgoA n materials sold inc
world markets.
Units in New Divisions
"The new United States army divi-
sions will be composed Of the follow
ing units: Three infantry brlgades. 49,
SIG officers and men; one field artillery
brigade, 4030 officers and men; one
regiment of cavalry, 1873 officers and
men, 1,541 horses; one regiment OF en-
gineers, 1,09S officers and men; one
field signal battalion. 259 officers and
men: one aero squadron, l73 officers
and men; II airplanes; total, 25,on or
fcers and men. Total, with wagon
trains, 2s,235 officers and men, or total
with motor trains, 2S,334 officers and
men.
"The number Of commissioned Off
GERS in a division SIT, with 90 addi-
IlOHdl OIUGtES lOI Aut NdEOA II ans -
If the division is organized with motor
trains.
"The medical department of divi
sion is composed Of 1875 officers. 1882
enlisted men and as 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 motor
trucks.
1.-THE total number Of riding horses
required for a division and its wagon
trains is 1915, together with 2,2lS
draft horses and 1915 riding, pack and
draft mules.
10000 Rifles Required
"More than 10000 rifles are required
TO arm a division and its trains, to-
gether with 5000 pistols. The artillery
consists OF so 3-inch field guns, firing
either high explosive shells or shrap-
mel, each projectile weighing 5 pounds,
and 253 S-inch howitzers, the shells for
which weigh 80 pounds. The number
of machine guns with which division
is TO be equipped is still an open ques-
tion, but the number which will appear
in army charts soon to be printed is 70
for the division itself and 20 additional
guns for the wagon train. The number
. in all probability will be greatly in
4 creased, perhaps, TO as much as 20 guns
for every ! 1000 rifles, making a total Of
500 for the division.
"The length of division in march
ing order is more than IA miles. while
the wagon trains require an additional
miles, making a grand total of 20
miles. If equipped with motor trains
instead Of wagon trains, the length
from the head of the column to the last
of the rear guard is 10 miles.
within the next few weeks detailed
tables, prepared by the army War Col
lege in Washington will be issued from
the Government Printing Office, show
ing the strength and equipment of each
unit Of the various branches of the
United States Army. The foregoing
statistics are based upon these forth
coming tables"