The Harrison times., 1917-05-12
BASIS ON WHICH AMERICAN
ARMY WILL BE FORMED.
Lessons Learned in the European War
Cause Enlargement of Units
28,235 Men in Division.

Compiled from data not hitherto
published, a bulletin issued by the
National Geographical Society on the
units and equipment of an infantry
division of the United States army as
reorganized in the light of lessons
learned during the 81 months of war
fare in Europe, gives these facts:
"As reorganized for the war with
Germany, an infantry division of the
United States army will number 65
per cent more men than 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, 6,S34 horses and 4.S75 mules.
Division Cost Near 100000.
According to estimates made two
years ago, the cost of fully equipping
division amounts to S.696,550, but
since that time the cost of materials
has advanced so greatly that con
servative estimate required the addi-
ton of 20 per cent to this amount,
making the total in excess of $4,000
000 And this takes into COnsidera-
ton the immense saving effected by
the Council of National Defense in
providing for the purchase by the Gov
ernment of munitions and equipment
at a profit to the manufacturer not
to exceed 10 per cent, which is far
less than the profits ordinarily real
lied on materials sold in the world
markets.
"The new United States army divis-
ions will be composed Of the following
units Three infantry brigades, 49,
$40 officers and men; one field artil.
lery brigade, 4,030 officers and men;
one regiment of cavalry 1879 officers
and men, 1,54l horses; one regiment of
engineers, 1,09S officers and men; one
field signal battalion, 259 officers and
men; one aero squadron, l73 officers
an men, l2 airplanes; total 25,S7l Of
ficers and men; total with wagon
trains 2S.235 officers and men; or to-
tai with motor trains, 2S,334 officers
and men.
1,457 in the Me5ieal Corps.
THE number Of commissioned Off.
GERS in a division is SIT, with 80 addi.
tional officers for the wagon trains;
80 if the division is organized with
motor trains. The medical depart
ment Of a division is composed of l25
officers, 1882 enlisted men, and As am
balances 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 81 motor
trucks. The total number of riding
horses required for a division and its
wagon trains is 46l6, together with
2,21S draft horses and 4S75 riding,
pack and draft mules
More than 10000 rifles are required
to arm a division and its trains, TO-.
gether with 5000 pistols. The artillery
consists Of so threeinch field guns
firing either high explosive shells or
shrapnel, each projectile weighing 10
pounds, and 25 3-S.inch hoWitzers, the
shells for which weigh 30 pounds,
Thirty Machine Guns Likely
"The number Of machine guns with
which a division is to be equipped is
still an open question, but the num-
Der which will appear in army charts
soon to be printed is - for the diyis.
ion itself and 20 additional guns for
the wagon trains, The number in all
probability will be greatly increased,
perhaps to as high as 30 guns for
every 1000 rifles making a total Of
500 for the division,
"The length of a division in march.
ing order is more than IL miles while
the wagon trains require an addition
al six miles, making 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 renr guard Is 10 miles.