Tensas gazette., 1917-12-07
Identity of State Organizations Is
Lost While This War
Lasts.
SUGGESTED BYGEN. .PERSHING
Reorganization Wipes Out Identity OF
Some Famous State Regiments
National Defense Act May
Restore IL After Conflict.

Washington.-War department Off
cials, general staff officers and army
officers generally frankly admit that
the National Guard, as it was before
the United States entered the war. is
being gradually eliminated. certainly
as far as this war Is concerned.
The fact Is that since Gen. John
]. Pershing was sent to France a de-
cision has been reached to reOrganize
the regular army and National Guard
from top to bottom. This decision was
made on General Pershing's urgent
recommendation.
General Pershing's recommendations
were the result of conferences in Paris
between the American and allied COM
manders, and the new organization fol-
lows closely the lines Of the present
French organization. built up after
three years of active fighting.
The recommendations Of General
Pershing were an entire surprise to
war department officials and the gen.
eral staff. The latter baked at first.
but ultimately followed the plan rec
commended by the American field COM
manders on the theory that Pershing
was on the ground and in position
to know what the British and French
have found most effective in battering
their way through the German lines.
That is the whole story. 1t is hard
on National Guard organizations. es-
pecially the crack regiments, whose
members have always taken great
pride In them and striven to improve
and perfect them.
For Keeping Identity.
At the outset the general stan plan
provided for mastering into the fed
| eral service state units as such. each
Of them to be given new regular
army number. but to retain Its iden'
tity.
When General Pershing urgently rec
commended that regiments be increased
from 1,5OO to more than 5000. ever
crack National Guard infantry regi
ments, which had been recruited tC
full war strength were far below the
required number. AS finally perfect
ed, the new organization provides fol
q regimental maximum strength Of 10;
officers and 1862 enlisted men.
This explains why it has been neces
sary to merge one National Guard reg
iment with another. 1t has been state'
repeatedly that the National Guar'
would next go to France. r,
combining two Guard units the gen
ernl staff figured the war department
would have a maximum of men in tn
enlarged regiment who had had som
military training and experience.
On the other hand. If the recon-
mendatiOns of governors, senators an
representatives and National Guar
officers were followed and the rank
of Guard units filled up with drafte
men from the same states. the m;
jority of every regiment, with fe'
executions. would he composed {
I wholly unframed men. This wOul
: mean a much longer training periO'
As reorganized, army experts are col
4 fident the National Guard troops wi
he ready Tor service aIter inllllHul
training period In this country.
Superior Fighting Machine.
However disappointing the new o
ganization may be to either Nations
Guard or regular army troops. of
cials feel that there can he no doul
that every officer and man in bo
| branches. as well as those now in II
National army camps, want TO see u
most efficient fighting machine pc
sible. Army experts devoted mo
! earnest study and thought TO the rec
ganization. They think they have Pc
fected an organization which has
] superior as fighting machine.
In the reorganization New YOrl