Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-11-29
STATE GUARD IS
ELIMINATED IN
1 new army plan
Identity Of State Organizations Is
Lost While This War
Lasts.
SUGGESTED DYGEN .PERSHINl
Reorganization Wipes Out Identity o.
Some Famous State Regiments
National Defense Act May
Restore II After Conflict.

hNohOiN ~ ~ SOIlIICl.
WashihgfOn.-War department off
ci0ls, general staff officers and army
officers generally frankly admit that
the National Guard, as II 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
j. Pershing was sent to France de-
,cisiOn has been reached to reorganlze
the regular army and National Guard
from top to bottom. This decision was
mnde 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
Pershlng were an entire surprise 10
war department officials and the gen.
eral staff. The latter baked at first.
but ultimately followed the plan rec
Ommended 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.
Tint Is the whole story. II IL hard
on National Guard organizations. es-
pccin!ly 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 staff plan
provided for mastering into the fed.
eral service state units as such, each
NJ them 20 be given new regular
army number, but to retain its iden.
tity.
When General Pershing urgently rec
commended that regiments be increased
from 1900 TO more than 5000, even
crack National Guard infantry regi.
ments, which had been recruited TO
full war strength were far below the
required number. As finally perfect
ed, TIE new organization provides for
regimental maximum strength Of l03
officers and 1862 enlisted men.
This explains why II has been neces-
sary In merge one National Guard reg
lment with another. II has been stated
repeatedly that the National Guard
would next 60 10 France. b.
combining two Guard units the gen.
crnl stan figured the war department
would havea maximum Of men in the
enlarged regiment who had had some
military training and experience.
on the other hand. II the recon.
mendations of governors. senator's and
representatives and National Guard
officers were followed and the ranks
Of Guard units filled up with drafted
men from the same states, the ma
jor'ity II every regiment. with few
exceptions. would he composed OF
wholly unframed men. This would
mean n much longer training period
As rcorganizcd, army experts are con.
ildcnt the National Guard troops will
be- ready for service after minimum
training period In this country.
Superior Fighting Machine.
However Disappointing the new or
ganlzatlon may be TO either National
Guard or regular army troops, OIL
Gals feel that there can he no doubt
that every officer and man In both
branches. us well rs those now In the
National array camps, want to see the
most efficient fighting machine pos
slhle. Army experts devoted most
earnest study and thought 10 the rcor.
ganlzallon. They think they have per
fectcd IN organization which has no
superior MS u fighting machine.
IN the reorganization New York'S
GunrdSmen have suffered dlSlntcgrn.
tion. For instance. the men 81 the
First New York Cavalry aud Squadron
A find themselves today mere dough
boys" MS In the past they termed tn,
Infantry. They are bidding final far"
well To their horses, and the pnrting
Is n sad one. for many II the former
cavalrymen have had the same mcunt'
for several years
The officers and men II the old tirN
Cavalry are being split M amcnr
three units. The One Hundred aud
sixth Machine Gun battalion will claim
$50 Of the enlisted personnel and tn
One hundred and Second Trench Nor
tar battery. the FIRST Of Its kind to be
organized ir this country, takes One
Hundred and Eighty One. The One
Hundred and Second Ammunition
a'rain will, also claim q number Of OH
GERS and men Of the old regiment
Squadron A. too, has lost It's mount 4
and the organization In now the One
Hundred and Fifth Machine Gra hat
| TALON.
Ia the Spartnnburg camp 6 IN
Twelfth and Sevcnty-nrst rcHNuu
there are not enough men left 60 mnts
q decent sized company Tho historic
commands have been drrlncd g
their men that more fortunate rs